Chapter 110
Nina and her friends dragged Günther out under the excuse of practicing bicycle riding.
The empty lot next to the playground, washed in red sunset, was quiet except for a few teens playing cricket.
While Messi and Katya took turns riding the bicycle to “demonstrate,” Nina focused all her energy on persuading Günther.
“Hey, mister, do you like candy?”
Günther, who had been watching Nina stand around without practicing, glanced at her with concern—
then suddenly flinched and began looking around.
He seemed to be searching for a candy vendor.
Nina swallowed a groan.
That wasn’t what she meant.
‘Well… trying to lure a full-grown adult with candy is a bit much, I guess.’
She reset her thoughts and tried to come up with a better line.
“You know, thanks for coming with us even though you’re busy. You’re usually busy too, right?”
Günther stopped looking around and stared at Nina for a moment.
Then he shook his head and gave her a thumbs-up with one hand.
That seemed to mean no problem.
Nina smiled before she realized it.
“Then… can I ask you a favor?”
Günther immediately crouched down and leaned an ear toward her.
From a distance, Messi watched with a disapproving face and Katya with a nervous one.
Nina whispered into Günther’s ear.
“So, actually… Messi and I want to go play at Katya’s house.”
“……”
“But it’s supposed to be a secret. And we can’t go alone, so… could you help us?”
“……”
Günther turned his head slightly, looking Nina straight in the eyes.
His gaze darkened a little.
‘I knew it… it’s too much? Is this too unreasonable?’
Truthfully, Nina didn’t feel entirely good about sneaking all the way there without Rabian knowing.
It was different from the casino mission last time—when they snuck in to stop that bombing attempt.
And she still had no idea what Katya had been told by Rabian afterward.
‘Honestly, Messi’s right. It would be safer to talk to Rabian… but…’
But Nina had decided Rabian must not be dragged into this.
Not only because there was a chance Hameln might be involved again.
But because of the voice she heard the night of the fireworks.
More precisely… because of what that voice said.
“……”
After staring toward Katya for a moment as if analyzing something, Günther finally turned back and gave a small nod.
“Really? It’s okay?”
Nod. Nod.
This time he nodded vigorously and raised his thumb again.
“Thank you, mister…! Then when should we go?”
Günther tilted his head, counted something on his fingers, and then held up four fingers in front of Nina.
Four days later—Friday.
Meanwhile.
Rabian had just arrived at the penthouse carrying a dollhouse.
The special gift wrapping from the toy store had cute animal patterns and a huge pink velvet ribbon.
“Uh… is that a present for the Captain of the Guard…?”
Smoky blurted the question the moment Rabian entered with the adorable package on his shoulder.
“That stingy punk wouldn’t get a present even if he were dying. I just took it instead of a consultation fee.”
“And what is it exactly?”
“Some dollhouse castle thing.”
“…The client was a kid?”
Rabian gave a crooked smile.
“Opposite. Where’s Nina?”
“She took Günther with her. Said the kids were practicing bicycles.”
“Günther? That guy? Why didn’t you go?”
“Nina said he looked like he’d be good at it and she didn’t need anyone else.”
Smoky answered with audible teeth grinding.
Rabian’s expression also turned murderous.
Meaning: right now Günther AND Messi were together, coaching Nina in bicycle riding.
Unacceptable.
Still… it was the perfect opportunity to set something up while Nina was gone.
“Where should I put this? Not in her room—too cramped.”
Rabian asked seriously.
Smoky turned solemn and looked toward the security team.
“You idiots. Come on, give an opinion.”
“Boss asked you, not us…”
“You morons. He’s giving you a chance to prove yourselves! Eat the food when it’s handed to you!”
They could not understand why Smoky insulted them every day, yet suddenly treated them like fools only when it benefited him.
But no one dared talk back with Rabian watching.
So the guards wandered around the penthouse searching for a spot for the dollhouse.
It wasn’t easy.
The penthouse was huge—so wide Katya wasn’t even exaggerating when she said you could ride a bicycle inside.
The problem was, none of these men had the slightest sense of aesthetics or childcare.
After several rejections and verbal beatdowns, someone finally made a decent suggestion.
“Boss, what if we put it in the attic upstairs and turn that into a playroom?”
It was Lisa who suggested it.
Smoky immediately barked at her.
“Are you stupid? That place is a storage rom—GAH! D-don’t poke my eye!”
Rabian’s hand wrapped around Smoky’s face like a vice.
He shoved Smoky’s flailing face aside and spoke with admiration.
“As expected of our organization’s beautiful representative. Good eye!”
“Oh, Boss…”
Lisa shyly wiggled her moustache (which unfortunately she had).
Smoky, eyes bloodshot from being poked, protested:
“That makes no sense. How do we turn that into a playroom? It’s piled with materials and dust—”
“Don’t worry. You’ll clean it.”
“…Wait. Why me? Make those guys—”
“You useless idiot. The kid eats dust and you just wave a feather duster at her? At least try doing something for her.”
THUNDERSTRUCK.
Smoky staggered as if struck by lightning.
Being compared unfavorably to Kiss, of all people?
Clearly his life had gone wrong somewhere.
Soon Smoky was furiously cleaning the attic while Rabian spread out blueprints and a toolbox.
The attic ceiling was too low for any adult to stand straight.
Smoky kept hitting his head on the ceiling, and Rabian kept banging the hammer on it.
Thunk. Thunk.
“Boss, where should I put thi—ugh!”
“Damn it! You scared me! Now the roof’s gonna leak—! Hot as hell…”
Rabian stopped, ripped off his shirt, and got back to work, sweat pouring like rain.
“Boss, should I bring water—ugh!”
“I’ll fan you—GAH!”
Thunk. Thunk. Thud.
Several ambitious guards tried to impress the boss but smacked their heads on the low ceiling one after another.
Finally Rabian exploded.
“You idiots, you’re in the way! Get out!”
“S-sorry…”
They all slumped and sat quietly at the bottom of the attic ladder, silently staring up at his back muscles.
“You too. Get lost.”
“Huh? I’m cleaning—”
“Anything you do will still be garbage! Send Kiss when he gets here!”
“How could you say that…!”
For the second time that day, Smoky was demoted below Kiss in usefulness.
He covered his face and practically rolled down the stairs in despair.
Rabian didn’t spare him a glance.
He wiped sweat off his temples with his elbow and checked the blueprint again.
“What the—? Damn it. Wrong alignment. Damn piece of—!”
CRACK. BANG! THUD THUD!
BANG BANG BANG!
From the sound of it, no one could tell if he was assembling the toy or destroying it.
But he was definitely working with passion.
When Kiss returned, pushed inside by Smoky’s nagging, he silently watched the chaotic scene.
Then wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.
“Boys… this is the back of our boss.”
“…Yeah…”
The Anubis men all wiped tears for reasons they could not explain.
