Although a bunch of employees had pinned him to the ground, the team leader clearly wasn't willing to give up. As he struggled, he shouted, "Let go of me! Let go of me! Ma-Martin! I remember you, you bastard! Just you wait. Once I get free, I'll tell Director Topaz about what you've done. You're interfering with our work."
Perhaps realizing that Martin wasn't going to tell anyone to let him go no matter what, the team leader's attitude took a complete one-eighty the moment he hit the ground.
Standing to the side, Martin held his forehead with one hand, feeling quite helpless.
Ever since Argenti had sent him back to the company, his position had risen considerably because of that Knight of Beauty and Nero. Yet he suddenly realized that he was actually much more exhausted than when he had merely been a low-level employee.
This kind of exhaustion wasn't the sort that came from being caught in the middle, where subordinates ignored you and superiors only gave orders without caring about you. After all, the company had rather strict hierarchies.
The key problem was that when he had been a low-level employee, all he needed to do was bow and scrape, then go on business trips to handle dirty and tiring work.
In that exhausting life, he simply had no time to worry about anything else, much less the chance to witness the diversity of lifeforms in the universe.
As his position rose and, in a sense, he became someone with connections, his work had become much easier. He even had some time of his own now. At the same time, however, he also had the chance to meet more and more people.
In this regard, Martin greatly admired several directors. At least he couldn't face his eccentric coworkers with the same composure they did.
Especially in the current situation, the employees and guests of Penacony were all casting strange looks this way.
As one of the few normal people, Martin now felt his scalp go numb, as if countless ants were crawling all over him.
But that was simply how things were. When your coworker doesn't care about making a fool of himself at all, you're the one who ends up dying of embarrassment.
Normal person Martin felt as if he had thorns in his back, a lump in his throat, and was sitting on a bed of needles.
And precisely because he was a normal person, his sense of responsibility wouldn't allow him to simply abandon everyone and run away.
Just as Martin was nursing a headache and preparing to apologize to everyone first, while the people from the Astral Express stared in amazement at this "company joke," a woman's voice rang out, "Go ahead and sue, my ass! You never learn from your mistakes. I already told you not to drink random stuff during work hours!"
As that familiar female voice sounded, a familiar black-and-red uniform and fleshy face appeared on the screen. It was a close-up from the side, focused on her chest. The players recognized her instantly.
"Topaz... Topaz is here too. These are reinforcements Aventurine called in, right?" Siberian Duck blinked at the scene. After a brief moment of surprise, he gave his guess like a great detective.
[Dan-heart Eternal: Can't really call her an outsider. Once the news of Nero disappearing got out, I'd already expected Topaz to come over.]
[Sampo Doesn't Sleep at Night: Exactly. It'd be strange if Topaz didn't show up.]
[Pom-Pom: But these company employees... why are they being funny the moment they appear? As the story progresses, the company's image has already started shifting in my mind.]
[I Use Pantene: They're gradually turning into comedians, right? First Scott, and now this mysterious team leader.]
[Too Handsome, Gets Beaten on the Street: Oh my god, social death. That employee named Martin has so many thoughts going through his head. I can feel his embarrassment through the screen.]
[So Ugly Even My Family Scolds Me: Compared to that, I'm more surprised by his reaction. Forget the higher-ups for now. Among the company's subordinates, there are actually normal people like this.]
[Nero's Sword: Speaking of which, Argenti and Nero both seemed to have mentioned a company employee named Martin.]
[Goose: There's a story behind this? Then I guess it's this normal person. After being bathed in the radiance of Beauty, it makes perfect sense for him to be normal.]
[Long-Term Substitute Puller: A basis for judgment that nobody can refute.]
[My Pee Is Yellow: None of you noticed this camera angle? It's directly facing her side b*ob, showing half her face and collarbone. My god, I can't even imagine it. When are we getting a close-up like this of Nero?!]
[My Pee Is Yellow: But even if you put Nero's big-shot-looking outfit in Penacony together with this, it still feels a little off. If it were the loose clothes he usually wears...]
[My Pee Is Yellow: That outfit isn't a b*ob window, but isn't the opening from the collar down to the chest even bigger than a b*ob window? If they gave that outfit the same kind of shot, wouldn't Nero's chubby little face, chin, collarbone, and chest all be completely exposed? It'd practically be pasted right up against the camera!]
[My Pee Is Yellow: That would definitely be warm!]
[Glue Man: Feeling good now, brothers. I've been waiting for Yellow Pee Bro to speak.]
[Glue Man: When he doesn't say anything, I always feel like something is missing, like... I've got thorns in my back, a lump in my throat, and I'm sitting on a bed of needles!]
[Aha's Emanator: Good one. Learning it and using it right away, huh?]
[Belobog Savage: But thinking about it carefully, Yellow-Piss Bro isn't completely wrong.]
[Belobog Savage: The outfit Nero usually wears is pretty hard to notice because the kid moves so fast and is usually pretty carefree, but now that Yellow-Piss Bro has singled it out, it really does seem like an outfit that gives benefits to people with yellow piss.]
[Madam Herta Fan Support Association: Being able to notice this... as expected of Yellow-Piss Bro.]
[Nero Space Station Fan Group Member: Not entirely. When Nero wanted to bring the Trotter back, didn't he carry it tucked inside his collar? I was jealous of that Trotter for a long time.]
———
Topaz folded her arms across her chest, frowned, and sternly looked at the team leader being pinned to the ground. She ordered the people holding him down, "You guys, hurry up and drag him away! Send him back to the guest room!"
As she spoke, Topaz grew somewhat irritated.
To be fair, she actually rather hoped these idiots would keep fooling around like this, so she could take advantage of the situation and search Penacony, seeing where exactly this intoxicating place could be hiding someone.
The information Aventurine had sent back was hardly encouraging.
But if they did that, the group of them belonging to the company would probably be kicked out by the Family.
That would make it even harder to look for someone... Er... harder to carry out the company's mission.
Although she'd heard that the Knights of Beauty were also looking for Nero, Topaz didn't know what connection there was between them... And compared to the Knights of Beauty, whom they'd worked with before, their company group was, in a certain sense, on the opposing side, making it easier for the Family to kick them out.
In any case, judging from the current situation, it was all thanks to Martin, this normal person, that this farce had been stopped. Otherwise, who knew how far things would have gone?
It really had been the right decision to have him keep an eye on these unreliable idiots.
Thinking about how these fools had almost cut off their chances of searching for Nero, Topaz spoke sternly once more, "I'll call a meeting later. We'll properly review how to write up the incident report!"
As Topaz's voice fell, the team leader was carried away by a group of company employees.
At the same time, the employees carrying the team leader could be heard discussing among themselves.
"We're screwed. I knew we'd make Director Topaz angry again."
"Please, no. My year-end bonus has already been completely deducted. They're not going to start deducting my salary this time, are they?"
"It... It should be fine, right? We listened to Martin and stopped the boss. We didn't fool around with him, so the punishment shouldn't fall on us."
"Who knows whether we'll be fine? Anyway, the boss is definitely screwed. His name will absolutely be on the serious disciplinary violations list this time, and he'll be listed together with that Scott guy."
"That's not bad either. Maybe we'll be team leaders in the future."
"Speaking of which, what did Scott get put on the serious disciplinary violations list for?"
"I think it was... running naked around the office building? I heard some of the younger girls say he ran out of Director Aventurine's office at the time."
"Uh... Director Aventurine likes that sort of thing?"
"What the hell do you mean Director Aventurine likes that sort of thing? Obviously Scott had ulterior motives. Otherwise, why would he be on the serious disciplinary violations list?"
"If you ask me, Director Aventurine was just kind-hearted. Same as Director Topaz. They at least took Scott's dignity into consideration."
"Tch. Director Aventurine and Director Topaz are still too kind. If you ask me, there's nothing worth taking into consideration with Scott. I heard he stops at nothing to get promoted. He'll casually report his own father, and he'll even frame his own friends."
The gossiping employees grew farther and farther away, soon leaving the area.
Watching his departing coworkers, Martin raised a hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling as if he had just walked out of a torrential rainstorm.
The people from the Astral Express were also somewhat pleased to encounter an acquaintance here.
The company was powerful, and Topaz doted on Nero. They didn't know whether Miss Topaz knew that Nero had gone missing, but if the company joined them, the search party for Nero would become even larger.
"...Miss Topaz! I didn't expect to run into you in Penacony." March said with some surprise.
Topaz was obviously in a good mood upon seeing the people from the Astral Express as well, and her tone rose slightly. "Long time no see, everyone from the Astral Express. I've heard all about what happened to you from Aventurine... Hmm?"
Halfway through speaking, an incoming call notification interrupted Topaz.
She gave everyone an apologetic look, then answered the call. As she listened to the report from her subordinate, she switched into a low, serious tone that belonged to someone in work mode.
"...It's fine. Do as they ask and try to avoid conflict with the Family... Report to me before taking any action. Mm. Mm, okay."
After ending the call, Topaz exhaled. A slight smile returned to her face as she looked at everyone from the Express and said, "Sigh... As you can see, the company isn't exactly welcome in Penacony."
"The Family's hospitality as the host is only superficial courtesy. Once a border prison, it's now going to put shackles on company employees instead."
"Only Aventurine, who has an invitation, is allowed to attend the celebration. As for us accompanying him... we aren't even qualified to enter the Dreamscape. We can only stay at the hotel in reality."
"No wonder Aventurine has been looking for people to cooperate with everywhere. So he can't get the company's assistance in the Dreamscape." Hearing Topaz's description, Himeko murmured in sudden understanding.
It seemed that Aventurine's various actions before, including his deliberate attempt to get close to Stelle, had all been explained here.
"I heard his situation isn't very optimistic..." Topaz's expression darkened slightly before she looked at the people from the Express. "And even earlier than that, he sent back some unsettling news."
Topaz looked at the three Nameless. "He said Nero had gone missing. Have you gotten any news?"
"Nothing..." March shook her head. "But the good news is that before Nero disappeared, all his vital signs were normal."
"The child isn't in the Dreamscape, and his room in reality is empty too. The Family's surveillance didn't show anything unusual either. It's as if Nero suddenly vanished from the face of the universe."
The girl's expression was extremely downcast, her eyes filled with worry for her companion.
At the same time, a woman whose appearance was clearly above that of the others, with an upright figure, graceful manner, and clothes carrying a hint of the Edo Star's style, happened to pass by.
The beautiful woman came to a tea table not far away, bent slightly, opened the teapot on the table, and peered inside. What she said, however, caught the attention of several people, "Nero... Are you in there?"
In an instant, the expressions on the faces of the three Nameless and one company executive became quite something.
Although they were somewhat speechless, the bullet comments from Siberian Duck's stream were already flooding the screen with "Serenitea Pot."
At this moment, Topaz didn't even know what kind of expression or attitude she should have toward this scene. Even though she was already a strong businesswoman, she still found herself at a loss for a moment when faced with something like this.
Because although the beautiful woman's actions looked incredibly abstract, both her tone and expression seemed quite serious.
While the Nameless and company executive were observing her, the woman who looked heroic and extremely beautiful seemed to sense something. She turned her head toward them, then walked straight over.
This made everyone a little tense. If her actions just now hadn't allowed them to determine that she was an ally, they might have already been preparing for a confrontation.
Because when this tall beauty walked over, she gave off an intense sense of pressure. The two blades, one long and one short, slung diagonally at her waist only added a few more hints of fierce killing intent to her.
Yet she was actually a very gentle woman, both her tone and voice carrying that gentleness. People from the Edo Star seemed to call this type of woman a "Yamato Nadeshiko."
And these characteristics further confirmed the judgment everyone had already formed, the judgment that had appeared in their minds the moment they first saw this beautiful woman.
What the woman said next also confirmed their guess.
"Hello. My name is Noe, and I'm from the Knights of Beauty. May I ask if any of you have seen a white-haired boy? He's very cute, wears a coat and a vest, and has a pair of beautiful gray eyes."
"She really is a Knight of Beauty..." This thought settled in everyone's minds.
To the people from the Astral Express, Miss Noe's behavior had many similarities to Argenti's.
As for Topaz, she began to question the ability of her ally, the Knights of Beauty, to find people.