"You've investigated me quite thoroughly. However, I still have a grandfather. It seems you missed that part."
Alistair leaned against the wooden door behind him, looking at Seira Kannonzaka. Most of his current assets were technically left to him by his grandfather, and on paper, they didn't even belong to him yet; the apartment and the company weren't in his name.
He could make decisions for the apartment because his grandfather had given him the authority, but the title hadn't been transferred since he was only sixteen—still a minor. As for the company, that was Takezo Kamekura's own initiative. It was convenient for Alistair, but Seira's investigation was based on legal records, so failing to find a direct link between him and those properties wasn't surprising. But why hadn't they found his grandfather? He was a direct relative.
"A grandfather? You have a grandfather? According to my records, your family status is summarized in one word—orphan. Even your stay with that uncle, according to my analysts, is just out of sentiment for your deceased parents. It seems my people haven't been working hard enough. Well, no matter. One extra grandfather doesn't change much."
Seira closed her laptop, dismissive of Alistair's words. However, the information she revealed made Alistair's mind race.
They can't find him? Why? Whether it was the company president or the apartment owner, those should be easy to trace. They found out about his trivial daily business, so finding a connection shouldn't be hard. The surname 'Alistair' wasn't common; if they found anything, they would have made the connection.
Yet Seira didn't care at all, meaning she had no such info. If she did, she'd be wary. A mysterious opponent capable of matching her resources wouldn't be ignored. Alistair suspected his grandfather could probably go toe-to-toe with her entire interest group.
Alistair hadn't been overly worried specifically because he thought his grandfather provided a deterrent. But they didn't even know he existed. This was incredibly strange.
Alistair felt like he was smelling something very unpleasant brewing in the shadows.
"Hey. Are you really daydreaming right in front of me?" Seira frowned, her voice laced with displeasure.
"So? What do you want?" Alistair's train of thought was broken. Hearing her annoyance, he looked her in the eye and countered.
Even if he couldn't rely on his grandfather, he didn't think Seira was crude enough to physically strike him. That was too low-class. If she did, he'd lose all respect for her.
"From that look on your face, do you think I'm going to walk over and slap you? Relax, I rarely hit people. Besides, your record shows you're quite fond of using violence to solve problems—or rather, to solve the people causing the problems. It's efficient, but reckless. Given that, I won't use violence on you. Though it seems no one at your school could resist you, so I suppose 'adapting to the environment' is a fair excuse."
Seira glanced at Alistair's hands as she spoke leisurely, letting him breathe a sigh of relief. He couldn't fight back right now; he had the strong body, but his actual combat power was non-existent.
"However, according to the investigation, you weren't always this strong. You were popular, yes, but you were often bullied by those bigger than you. Your transformation happened after the summer break before high school. Since then, you've violently dealt with anyone who tried to mess with you. Their injuries weren't severe, though.
An eye for an eye, without taking out your past trauma on new targets. I like that about you. But you're still careless, almost arrogant. Perhaps you have some backing that makes you fearless? Is it this 'grandfather'? You seemed more confident the moment you mentioned him.
What exactly caused such a massive change in you over a single summer? Is it just this 'grandfather' whom my investigation can't find a single trace of?"
Seira's speech sped up, her eyes narrowing. Alistair felt her gaze become piercing, as if she were trying to use her words to dismantle his composure.
"By the way, my people looked deeper than just the surface of your parents' history. Your father, Akito Alistair, lost both parents at a young age. So tell me... where did this 'grandfather' come from?"
Seira slowed her pace, questioning him pointedly.
"..."
Alistair remained silent. He had long harbored doubts about his so-called 'grandfather.' But since he knew nothing about his parents and the old man actually gave him benefits, he'd just gone along with it. As for traps—the man gave out supernatural items like candy. If he wanted to mess with Alistair, it would be effortless. There was no point in being on guard.
It was like a war between nations; a commoner babbling on the street isn't going to affect the front lines. Alistair was just a speck of dust to them.
In a way, Seira had actually helped him. He couldn't have investigated this himself. Everyone around him was likely his 'grandfather's' people; they wouldn't let him know the truth.
"Don't tell me you don't know either? No way. Are you that naive? You actually eat the pie that falls from the sky without questioning it?" Seira looked at the silent Alistair, her tone surprised.
"I know, but not completely. Also... thank you."
Alistair nodded, then shook his head. His situation was complex, surrounded by powerful enemies. Even if the ring on his finger was a trap, he had no choice. Expecting [Acquisition] to suddenly give him a god-tier ability was unrealistic.
"Uh... what?"
The sudden gratitude caught her off guard. Seira had never experienced anything so surreal. She was trying to break his mental defenses, and he responded with a 'thank you.' What was going on?
"Is there anything else?" Alistair's expression calmed. He was less tense now. He realized this young lady had her own unique code of conduct. She wasn't some cliché spoiled brat; she was actually quite smart.
"...Nothing. Come sign your name, and you can go."
Alistair's sudden shift in demeanor left Seira unable to read him. Her original plan was in shambles. Caught off guard, she decided to end the confrontation there. There was plenty of time; she could play with him slowly.