«...there was a fire in the aftermath of which the body of a young millionaire, founder and head of LexCorp, was found. - The Daily Planet had already prepared a morning report on the incident, but it was to be expected. I mean, this is big news. - Now the question is, who gets the multimillion-dollar company?
«God... - quietly escaped from Lena's lips when she heard about this news. The girl covered her mouth with her hand and didn't even know what to say.
«Yeah, maybe he was having a booze party with fireworks. - I tried to cheer my sister up somehow... even though I was feeling a little better myself.
«Tony, it's not funny, he's our brother after all....
«Don't tell me you're going to cry about it? - I raised an eyebrow.
«Of course not, I didn't really know him. It's just not good to be happy about someone's death.
In the morning all the news channels were buzzing about the news and even showed me and my sister. Since we're Lex's only living relatives. It didn't take long before there was a knock at our flat and, understandably, it was lawyers and others who simply reported the death of the sole owner of the company. Lex himself had no wills, so began a bureaucratic fiddling that would last more than a day.
There was no apparent suspicion on our part on the part of the police, for Alexander Luthor had died not because of an assault or anything like that, but simply because he had carbon monoxide poisoning. There were no signs of burglary in the office, nor any other evidence that could indicate that everything happened by someone's will. Especially the fire centre had been determined rather quickly, and the closed electronic door was explainable by a short circuit on the floor, though, which was what could explain the start of the fire from inside the wall between the layers. Since there was absolutely no other evidence to indicate that it wasn't an accident, that's exactly what this one became.
The whole day was quite eventful, because apart from the university Lena and I had to go through the standard procedures of a relative's death, i.e. identifying the body and signing various documents. Right now no one will give us the whole company, but Lena and I are Lex's only relatives, so it's no secret that in any case we'll be the next heads. And since there are two of us, we'll each get fifty percent of the company.
Cortana already told me that some of the investors want to try to put pressure on us... but she handled it the easiest way possible: blackmail. Now I feel like an arsehole, just like my brother was.
By evening, all the books Hermione had sent had long since been copied by Cortana, so I sent them back to her via Chat's mail. My spell list had been updated with some interesting items, but that was just in case, I didn't have any direct use for them at the moment.
Chat, on the other hand...
Shinoa Hiragi: I haven't heard of any vampires that could destroy an entire city or mountain.
Rias Gremori: Vampires aren't particularly strong in my world either... though I just don't know much about them, demons don't really pay much attention to them. I do have a dhampir in my peerage though.
Shinoa Hiragi: A dhampir?
Rias Gremory: Half-vampire. I read the book you sent me and your magic is quite interesting. Especially the concept of a cursed weapon with the soul of a living being. Somewhat reminiscent of Sacred Gear, only a simpler version.
Anthony (Administrator): These weapons often have different abilities from simply increasing physical characteristics, to creating energy blades.
Rias Gremory: Tony-kun, you've hardly written anything today, busy?
Anthony (Admin): Yeah, I've been busy. While we're on the subject of books, would you mind sending me something on your magic?
Rias Gremory: Hmm, I wouldn't mind.
Anthony (Admin): What do you want for it? You're a true demoness after all, surely you've already figured out what to ask a mere human?
***
«Hmm, she and Akeno would clearly be friends. But what would I want? Tony-kun, you asked for it...
***
Rias Gremory: I don't require anything right now, but I'll consider your suggestion later when I have some ideas.
Anthony (Administrator): Thank you, Rias.)
Shinoa Hiragi: Administrator-san is trying to seduce Rias, and Shinoa, whose panty colour he knows, is ignored by the administrator.
Hermione Granger: Hello, everyone!
Hermione Granger: Anthony, I had another magic lesson where I heard a story about alchemists. There's one I've heard of most often and in first year he played an important role for our quest - Nicholas Flamel. You said you're also an alchemist, do you know much about the philosopher's stone?
Shinoa Hiragi: Am I being ignored?
Anthony (Admin): Yes I can be called an alchemist, and a fairly good one at that. I can't say with exact certainty about your world's philosopher's stone, just that things can vary from world to world and the people creating them. I know of Flamel from the history of your world and if I'm not mistaken it's over six hundred years old.
Anthony (Administrator): And to create something so powerful, to create an elixir of life on its basis that allows an ordinary person to live so many years and change the properties of objects at the molecular level, you need a colossal amount of pure energy. In general, this stone can theoretically be used even for the resurrection of the recently deceased if you create a suitable ritual, well, provided that it really contains so much energy. I can only see two ways to create it in your world. Either by using dragon veins if they exist in your world or by using human sacrifices and souls.
Hermione Granger: Raising the dead?!
Hermione Granger: That's dark magic!
Anthony (Administrator): Hermie, stop thinking in British wizarding standards and remember who is in the Chat with you.
Rias Gremory: Is this Philosopher's Stone anything like our figures of evil?Anthony (Admin): Without careful inspection and study of both, I cannot say with one hundred per cent accuracy. The Philosopher's Stone is theoretical, but in practice I have not created it or held it in my hands, and the same goes for the figures of evil. As far as I remember they were created by the cleverest of Satans - Adjuka Beelzebub. But if you take the version from Hermione's world specifically, I doubt he'd be as useful as the figures of evil.
Hermione Granger: But... dark magic corrupts the soul
Anthony (Admin): Any magic can corrupt you to one degree or another. It's just that to be able to defend yourself and fight something, you have to know for yourself how that something functions. You have a Spatial Shop, and you've already taken books from there, haven't you realised that yet? By the way, you know you have Legilimens at your school, right?
Hermione Granger: I can understand your point of view, but... dark magic is dangerous.
Hermione Granger: What is it?
Anthony (Admin): You can blow up a person with a bombardment. Brahiam Emendo can easily strip a person of their skull bones and they die. With the same Depulso, you can push a person so far away that they break their neck. And that's just the first thing that comes to mind.
Anthony (Administrator): Check your library for books on Legilimension.
After checking the mail where Rias had sent a couple of books, I immediately pulled one out. The next day was the last day to come to the university and talk to the professors, and this time even the rector showed up and expressed his admiration for the young mind... and of course, he tried his best to show how good he was and how much he cared about the university. I was smiling and trying to keep a friendly tone with everyone who came up to me, but when I saw my sister chatting sweetly with some guy near the exit, I didn't like it. And not the fact of communication, but the calculating look of the guy.
«...to pass was not difficult, just had to listen to the professor. - said the girl, to which the guy "innocently" grinned and modestly shrugged his shoulders.
«Right, it's just that sometimes it's so boring that I fall asleep in the lecture. We've known each other for a year and I know so little about you, what do you like to do? Do you fancy a walk?
«Oh... - it was obvious that her sister was caught off guard by the question and didn't even know what to say. - I'll--I'll--
«If you're busy, I understand. It's just rare to find someone so easy to talk to. - said the guy.
«Lena, I see you're having a conversation. - I approached the couple.
«Oh, you're Anthony, aren't you? - He caught up and extended his hand in a friendly manner... which I accepted, but did not let go immediately and began to squeeze a little harder.
«Yes, I'm the brother of this gorgeous girl. - I nodded, not letting go of his hand, and the guy's face started to redden a little. I didn't seem to be squeezing hard, but don't underestimate the physical strength of an eight percent Albedo.
«You look a little sore, maybe you need to see a doctor. - I asked politely, letting go of his hand, and he bounced away from me.
«Y-yes, maybe. - he looked down.
«All right, sis, let's go. - I stood behind Lena and drove her pram. - Who's that bloke?
«Tony, are you going to drive away from me all the guys you know? - grinned the girl.
«The ones who only want your money, yes.
«No-one else would pick someone like me. Who needs an invalid..." she said with a self-deprecating smile. - And so at least I'll feel what it's like to be a woman.....
«Lena. - I stopped and walked round the girl to sit down in front of her face and face her gaze. - You're beautiful, and these leg problems are treatable. Especially when we have money soon...at least this piece of faeces did something good.
«Brother... - Lena wanted to say something, but I just hugged the girl. I didn't pay attention to the people around us or the sound of the camera clicking.
«People like that guy are gold diggers. What's the point of ruining your life? You'll find someone who will love you with all his heart and not because of money, but because of who you are. - I said seriously, looking into her eyes. - I felt sorry for Lex, but he was a shit of a brother, so I didn't feel sorry for him. I'm grateful, because I'm sure our lives will be easier now, and I'm sure the chance of curing you is greater. You're my only family in this world, and I don't want to see you suffer.
«I'm... sorry. - She sniffed her nose and wiped away her tears, though she had a beautiful smile on her face. - Let's go back home, otherwise I don't feel comfortable with people staring at us. - The girl said a little more quietly. I nodded to her and we went to the flat, all the way Lena was silent.
«I'm being pathetic, aren't I? What would our parents say? Tony, thank you. - The girl smiled without a backwards glance.
«Eh, I am your brother, and you are my family, of course I will support you. - I answered her from the kitchen. - Are you going to eat? We have dishes from that very chef.
«Oh, yeah?! - came the girl's joyful exclamation. - Of course I will! Are you sure there's no drugs in there? Because last time... I'm embarrassed to think about it.
«There's nothing there, just pure craftsmanship. And you mean that sexy moan of yours? - I said mockingly and pulled out the dish that Erina had sent us all from Chat's Mail. She's a really great cook and obsessive about it, and with new foods from other worlds she's been experimenting more often.
«Z-shut up!" she shouted indignantly, blushing at the same time.
«Heh, you have nothing to be ashamed of. - I put another dish on the table, and the girl's eyes glistened. Even I found it hard to resist the smell.
After spending time with my sister in the kitchen, we decided to watch some film in the evening and settled down on the couch... where we fell asleep. So I woke up in the morning and felt distinctly overweight. So yes, it was somewhat embarrassing when my sister also woke up and noticed that she had literally slept on top of me all night.
A few days later, all the fuss over Luthor Sr.'s death began to subside, and my sister and I were given the papers to sign, which meant that she and I became the owners of LexCorp, with equal rights, but I wasn't too worried about that, and neither was Lena. We'd been living together for years, and we trusted each other.
«A week ago we were living in a two-room flat on the outskirts of the city, and now we're moving into a penthouse on top of the main LexCorp building. - my sister said as we took the lift to the top floors of the building. Because of Superman's appearance, the entire floor hadn't been damaged by fire, just the office, so the living area was in perfect condition.
«Well, sometimes something unexpected happens. - I said lightly. My sister and I were alone in the lift, and Cortana had already taken control of the building. - I just can't get over the idea that our big brother died in the building.
«Why did you say that? Now I'll be thinking about it too... - Lena grumbled. - We should have chosen another place to live.
«Well, according to all the documents, we have a lot of places to live. There is a country mansion for example....
«Yeah, but now that we're heads of the company, I'm scared. I'm a student, what kind of company management?! - I'm a student, what kind of company management?!
«Don't worry, there's two of us, so we'll get through this.
«Without Lex, the company's revenues are down four per cent and still falling... and it's not a big deal if you don't know that four per cent is over three hundred million dollars. - she said quietly.
«We'll get through this. - I said again...relying entirely on the experience of Stark, who also ran his own company. Although I, like him, I want to focus more on my abilities and on creating something new and technological, rather than on all these papers. Especially since magic is interesting too, I've already got Rias' books back and they were... informative. Metropolis has a LexCorp technology department where scientists worked on Lex projects. By the way, I'll need to rename the company some more... LuthorCorp sounds better at the moment.
***
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