Es leaned back, her frustration palpable. "That’s the question. If he’s so desperate for family ties and land, why is he surrounded by luxury? It’s almost as if he’s trying to distract us from the truth."
Helga’s curiosity ignited. "Maybe that acre has more value than we realize."
Es shook her head, frustration evident in her voice. "No, that’s not right. I already checked on that land thoroughly. It’s nothing special—just a regular plot of land. But here’s where it gets weird: the land wasn’t transferred to any individual; it was transferred to a charity."
Helga’s brows knitted in confusion. "A charity? What kind of charity?"
Es exhaled slowly. "The Kudo Charity. A pretty big one. And the thing is, it was founded by my mother before her accident."
Helga’s eyes widened. "Your mother’s charity? But why would that r—be interested in land tied to your family’s land? Even if he wanted that land, why did he ask them to donate it to charity instead of getting it for himself?"
Es rubbed her forehead again, the puzzle only deepening. "That’s exactly what I can’t figure out. The land was handed over, no strings attached. It doesn’t make sense, and as far as I know, there’s no mystical significance to it. Yet, for so reason, that acre was important enough for him to ask about."
Helga’s gaze hardened with suspicion. "Do you think there could be sothing hidden in the charity’s records? Or maybe the land itself is a front? Your mother founded it—could there be sothing about the charity that ties with that r, sothing only she would know?"
Es bit her lip, her mind racing. "I don’t know. But there’s definitely more to this story. My mother was always secretive about certain things—especially after the accident. If there’s a connection between her charity and that r, we’re going to need to dig deeper. And we’re running out of ti."
Helga nodded, her face determined. "We need to investigate the charity, look into its history, and see if we can uncover why that land was so valuable to him. Whatever your mother was protecting may be the key to understanding this whole ss."
Es clenched her fists, resolve hardening. "Let’s get to work."
Es leaned back in her chair, exhausted after another long board eting. The elders had made their usual round of complaints, and while they hadn’t dared to cross the line with her brothers after the police warning, Es wasn’t as fortunate.
They still hounded her at work, making baseless demands and stirring trouble in her office. Her patience was fraying, and it took all of her self-control not to lash out. The frustration was bubbling just beneath the surface, threatening to erupt.
At least Helga—or Ruby, as everyone now knew her—was by her side. Helga had taken on the role of Es’s secretary, a perfect cover with her new identity. In just a month, Ruby had beco the most talented and popular secretary in the Aron Group, her efficiency and sharp mind turning heads. No one recognized her as Helga anymore, with her changed appearance and deanor, and her reputation only grew with each passing day.
Es rubbed her temples, trying to focus on the screen in front of her. The numbers were starting to blur, the letters on the docunts losing their sharpness. She frowned, blinking a few tis, but the dizziness only worsened.
A sharp pain flared in her hand, and before she could react, her vision dimd. The last thing she saw was the papers on her desk slipping from her grasp as her body followed, crashing to the floor with a loud thud.
The noise reverberated through the office. Ruby—no, Helga—was sitting just outside, her keen senses picking up the unusual sound. Her heart skipped a beat, and she bolted up from her desk. Sothing was wrong. She rushed to the door, and as soon as she stepped inside, her eyes locked on Es’s collapsed form on the ground.
"President!" Helga cried out, her voice sharp with panic as she raced toward her friend.
Helga’s heart raced as she gently picked up Es, cradling her limp body. Panic surged through her as she patted Es’s face softly, trying to rouse her. "President! Co on, wake up!" she urged, her voice trembling.
But Es remained unresponsive, her head lolling to the side, eyes closed as if in a deep sleep.
"President!" Helga called again, louder this ti, shaking her lightly, her desperation growing. Her hands trembled as she pressed her fingers to Es’s neck, checking for a pulse. There—faint, but steady. Relief washed over her, but it was fleeting.
Sothing was wrong.
Helga quickly laid Es back down, her mind spinning with possibilities. Could it be the divine beast? Was this so kind of spell or curse? She glanced around the room, her eyes scanning for anything out of place, any signs of danger that she might have missed.
"President, please..." she whispered, kneeling beside her, uncertainty and fear tightening in her chest.
Helga’s mind raced as she glanced at Es, whose face had turned an alarming shade of red. Her breaths were shallow, her body heavy as if weighed down by an unseen force. Helga could feel panic creeping up her spine, but she forced it down, knowing she had to stay calm. The thought of taking Es out of the office crossed her mind, but that would raise too many questions. If anyone saw Es like this, rumors would spread quickly, and Helga couldn’t risk that.
Her gaze fell on Es’s phone, sitting on the edge of the desk. Without thinking, she grabbed it, scrolling through the contacts until her fingers stopped on a na. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but sothing pressed in her mind, urging her to call this person.
Helga’s fingers trembled as she dialed the number on Es’s phone. Her eyes darted nervously to Es, whose face was flushed, her breathing labored despite Helga’s attempt to loosen her tie and open her collar. Sweat had begun to bead on Es’s forehead, and Helga’s heart pounded with urgency.
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