"Alright. I'll wait for your explanation. In the meanwhile, tell me how I can help," Ryder with Shu. He wasn't going to ask everything if Shu wasn't ready, but he was still free to help.
"There's nothing for you to do. Go back and enjoy your time with Alice. Everything is under my control here," Shu replied, sounding confident.
Ryder went silent as he thought for a little. "Are you sure?" He asked.
"Absolutely. There is no problem here. It's completely in my control. In fact, it would be bad for me if you don't leave Alem's office soon. The stage is set. I can start as soon as you leave," Shu told Ryder.
"Alright. I'll trust you. I'm so glad that you're safe. I'll wait for you to return," Ryder commented before he returned the phone to Alem. He suddenly thought of something as a suspicious look appeared on his face.
'Is that really Shu? How can I believe so easily when there are so many people who can copy someone's voice to perfection. I need to confirm,' he thought as he suddenly took the phone back from Alem before he could even say something.
"Shu?" Ryder asked Shu.
"Yes?" Shu answered.
"The ring is still with your character. You do know that we will fail, right?" Ryder inquired casually.
"Ah, right. The ring of lexini. I still have to return that. How can I forget that? Don't worry; I won't fail the mission," Shu chuckled as he acknowledged.
A smile formed on Ryder's face as he confirmed that it was Shu indeed. He nodded as said, "That's better."
He returned the phone to Alem before he stood up and left the office.
He didn't even bother changing his looks again as he was done with the work.
The receptionist was still waiting for Ryder to come out of the washroom.
"Strange. How can he spend so long there? Did he fall asleep? I should get someone to check on him," she muttered as she worried about Ryder.
She decided to send someone to check on him; however, that's when she saw Ryder coming out of the lift from the opposite side. Ryder had kept the identity card in his storage, and he had also changed his clothes in the bathroom on the higher floor. He was in his normal clothes now.
"W-what? How did he get there?" She let out in shock. She was told to stop Ryder, but he had already gone ahead?
"You! Come here!" She told Ryder as she puffed her cheeks.
Ryder walked up to the girl, "Yeah?"
"How did you get there? Didn't you go to the bathroom?" The girl asked Ryder.
"What are you talking about? What bathroom? You told me to go straight up. You even watched me go to the lift. Did you hit your head or something to forget it?" Ryder asked innocently.
"I did?" the girl asked in confusion. Why did she have no recollection of that ever happening? In fact, she remembered the complete opposite.
"It's fine. You must be tired after working for so long. I'll talk to Alem to get you a paid leave for a few days. Don't worry. You'll be fine after a good rest," Ryder let out as he smiled while patting her head innocently.
He soon turned back and left the premises.
The people from the media were still standing outside when Ryder left. He took a cab while ignoring them.
'It makes sense why the coffin was empty now. Shu is still alive. But what is it about? It seems to be something related to the deal with Necrosis.
While Ryder was going back in the cab, a helicopter landed on top of the Dream Corporation.
Two men who were dressed in black coats and pants came out of the helicopter. They were greeted by the people from the Dream Corporation, who escorted them to the meeting hall.
****
Ring! Ring!
Alem was in his office when his phone started ringing. He picked up the phone.
Before he could even say hello, the person on the other side started speaking.
"Alem, get to the conference room immediately. People from the Necrosis Corporation are here already."
"I'm coming," Alem replied before he disconnected the call.
"Thus, it begins," he muttered as he stood up. He left his office and went straight to the conference hall.
*****
Not having anything to do with what happened in Dream Corporation, Ryder reached his hotel room.
As he got back home, he told Alice that Shu was hoping to return soon and that they talked.
Now that he was back and claiming to be done with his work, he suggested going out with Alice. Alice excitedly agreed without denying.
The two of them left the hotel soon.
****
Drake Lamia was the Managing Director of the Dream Corporation. He had the highest authority after Shu, who was now assumed to be dead.
He welcomed the Director of Necrosis Corporation, Rai.
He was accompanied by someone from the army.
"Welcome, Mister Rai. To the place where we are going to write the history. After the merger, our success will reach the stars," Drake told Rai, who also smiled in return.
"Of course," Rai answered as he smiled.
Drake introduced Rai to the others from the Dream Corporation, including Rai.
Rai sat on the chair which was beside the chair of Drake as he placed a briefcase on top of the table.
He opened the briefcase and pulled out a few files, which he pushed towards the members of the Dream Corporation.
"This is our offer in response to what you asked for. Read it so we can move forward," Rai informed the members of Dream Corporation as he sat completely relaxed on his chair.
There were four people here from the Dream Corporation, including Alem. All four of them picked up the files as they started going through them.
It took everyone half an hour to go through it.
Drake was the first one to comment on it. "This seems fine. You've agreed to all our terms, I believe. We can still optimize it a little more, but it's good as it is," he said.
"Yeah. This seems good enough."
The others also agreed.
"I have a question." Alem was the only one who raised his voice.
"Yes," Rai asked casually.
"What about the regulating authority of Dream Corporation? Will they agree to the merger? It's not a small thing after all," Alem asked.
"Good question," Rai let out as he smiled. He looked towards his left side, where the second person that came with him was sitting.
"General Kale, why don't you comment on it?" He asked the man.
"There is no problem. We already managed to get the permission for the merger. This is the document from the regulatory authority that claims that there is nothing wrong if the merger happens," General Kale said as he also brought four files and pushed them towards Dream Corporation members.
As soon as Alem saw the documents, a smile formed on his face. "Perfect. The regulation authority claims that there is nothing wrong with the possible merger. They can't go back from their stance now, or we can sue them in the court of law."
Drake thought that Alem was talking to himself, but he didn't know that Alem was talking to someone else through the microphone that was placed inside his shirt.
As soon as he finished saying it, two helicopters took to the air from nearby buildings, flying straight towards the headquarters of Dream Corporation.
"Yup. Now that the regulatory authority has also permitted it, nothing can go wrong. Should we consider the deal finalized?" Rai asked Drake.
"I have one more problem with this contract. Point 5a claims that…"
Alem started talking about small things that he found confusing in the contract. Even though these things were not severe enough to stop a deal, they were sufficient to delay it for a little as all questions needed to be clarified.
Necrosis wanted to buy Dream Corporation through common consensus so as to not get any negative publicity later on.
Rai heard the question of Alem carefully and started answering. It was at that point; two helicopters landed on top of the Dream Corporation.
A chubby youngster stepped out of the first helicopter. He was followed behind by a person who seemed like his butler. There were also a lot of guards surrounding him. They entered the building of Dream Corporation and walked towards the conference hall.
"So that's it. It's a small misprint which we'll clear in the final version. As for point 5b, we will also make the wordings a little clearer so as to not leave any scope of misuse later. You can rest assured," Rai answered with a calm smile.
"Are there any other questions? Or should we consider it final?" He asked after he finished clarifying.
"I have a question," a voice filled the conference hall as the door opener. A man stepped inside the conference hall with his head held high.
