Welcome to Paris (6)

Somehow, I'd rather face a bloodthirsty DHB right now.

There are at least two reasons. First, I wouldn't have time to panic, I'd do bullshit on impulse then either die or survive—which is a horrible decision in front of a murderer, really. Even though he's smart, he isn't a manipulator but a serial killer—which may be worse, but that's a detail.

Second, although Cheon is handsome, DHB is handsomer, so I'd have a face even nicer to stare at while this silence drags on.

Okay, I admit it. My brain stopped working and I've completely given up on making plans.

I guess leaving blanks is also a strategy to pressure your opponent and show your authority. Like Father.

Father vs Cheon, who would win? I hope it's Cheon.

Seemingly having finished assessing my usefulness, he finally replied.

"Since you came all this way, I can at least listen."

Thank you.

Let's review a few things first.

Why do people enjoy being in a position of power, especially in an apocalypse?

The answer is: to survive. Having to authority to control people's actions makes one's survival easier.

Right now, the information I possess about the future could benefit him in both avoiding disasters and consolidating his position.

"Let's resume the situation. You and the 'privileged' are monopolizing food and distribute it only to those who defend the wall. You also get rid of people who disobey you by fabricating evidence to execute them. In short, there are currently food problems and your position as a leader is unstable. Is that correct?"

Cheon acquiesced.

"Indeed."

"I have a way to solve both of these issues."

After a brief pause to mark my words, I continued.

"To consolidate your position, what better way is there than giving them a leader with worse rules than yours? They want to be fed as much as they want and without effort, and be free to act as they desire, let's give them these rights and they'll have to bear the consequences."

It's like selling something at 100€, then lowering the price to 50€. Suddenly, 50€ seems like an acceptable price because of the contrast when it's still very expensive.

I grinned.

"At that time, they will put the blame on the one who gave them that freedom and you can come back."

Cheon sneered and inquired, "What about the food problem?"

I tilted my head innocently.

"What, isn't it obvious?"

Then, leaning forward as if telling him a secret, I smiled.

"Food won't be lacking if the ones asking for it are dead."

Cheon chuckled, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Are you insinuating that we should kill them?"

I slowly shook my head, denying it.

Killing them, why would we need to do such a thing?

"Of course not, we don't need to intervene for them to kill themselves with their own decisions."

Wouldn't a shortage of food be enough to let them die of hunger after having their fill?

Accepting my explanation, Cheon then raised an important point.

"And who would be the leader?"

I paused, understanding the hidden meaning behind this question.

Cheon is a very smart character, and extremely cautious as well.

From his point of view, my proposal could be suspicious to him. He may think I could want to steal his place.

To reassure him, I glanced around the room and replied with the safer option for him.

"I was thinking of one of your subordinates."

Sigh, politics…

However, Cheon hadn't finished questioning me.

"What about you? How would it benefit you that I consolidate my position?"

I looked down, feeling his gaze on me.

I had prepared an excuse beforehand in case I had to justify myself.

"…I want to survive."

The most important thing right now is to hide my intentions. If he learns my goal, it would become a weakness.

"Collaborating with a competent individual like you, who possesses numerous connections and leadership skills, would be beneficial to me."

So I said only half of the truth, twisting some facts to my convenience.

"I would like to leave a good impression in your mind, and form a connection with you to make future scenarios easier for me, you see?"

Father taught me to never reveal my cards to my opponent.

"I see."

I raised my head and my eyes met his.

"What do you think of my plan?"

What would be the opinion of someone who is used to manipulate people be? Was I convincing enough? Is there any loophole?

"Not bad."

For a few seconds, we stared at each other, the conversation coming to a standstill.

Cheon put an end to our staring contest first.

"Why don't you act as the leader?"

Hiding my surprise, it took my brain a moment to register Cheon's words.

Is it a test to gauge my usefulness? To see if I'm able to do it?

"…Okay."

My voice sounded more unsure than I'd have liked to.

Cheon extended his hand.

"Then, I hope we will have a good cooperation."

I accepted the handshake, trying to apply the right pressure to give off the impression that I was confident.

"Yes."

Stepping back, I was about to leave when he stopped me.

"You didn't tell me your name?"

I halted.

Deliberating if I should use my real name, I settled on the same lie as before.

"…Emma."

I looked at him in the eye.

"My name is Emma."

Cheon curled up his lips.

"It was a pleasure, Miss Emma. Do you need me to escort you to the door?"

Thoughtful, my gaze trailed on the person next to him.

"Actually, I will accept your offer. I'd like to borrow your subordinate to get help with some details of the plan. By the way, you will be able to check on its progress."

Cheon agreed and the man with brown hair split 70/30 and wearing glasses followed me out of the room.

As he closed the door, I observed him.

There was a nagging sense of familiarity, yet when I looked at his face he only seemed more and more unfamiliar.

I opened my mouth but closed it, hesitating to ask if we had met each other before.

However, I could not suppress my curiosity.

How did that guy introduce himself already?

"Leraje."

Facing the front in case I was wrong, I spoke out that name as if I was calling him.

"What?"

I turned toward him and examined his face, waiting for him to show any suspicious sign.

"It's nothing, I just finally found the name I was trying to remember. Right, it was Leraja, I had forgotten for a moment."

I then began to say bullshit, starting by misspelling his name.

"It's, um, a very shady guy I encountered during the 2nd scenario. He was very annoying, too."

After being serious for such a long time, I felt relieved to tell nonsense without caring about having to organize my words or sound logical.

It was also a very good opportunity to be mean.

"I don't really know much about him, except that he's shady, annoying…"

I was out of ideas there.

Settling on the most outrageous thing possible, I observed his reaction.

"Ah, and his underwear was blue."

This one was completely invented.

He made an awkward expression, exactly like someone trying to answer something embarrassing.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

From beginning to end, the man's composure didn't crack, and he didn't try to refute me either, showing Leraje's extreme patience.

Hearing his reply, I snapped first, now completely sure of my guess.

"Leraje, you can drop the act, I'm sure this is you."

The man next to me, acting as Cheon's subordinate, was Mr. Scammer.

Thankfully, Leraje did not make things difficult and admitted it immediately.

"How did you know? I changed my appearance."

So that's why you seemed so unfamiliar?

I also thought it was strange that his hair seemed different from what I remembered. Did his eye color change too? And maybe he wasn't wearing glasses before either…

"I didn't recognize you by your face."

My memory of faces is so nonexistent that I don't know whether my friends wear glasses or not. I wouldn't know Lou-Ann's hair and eye color either if I had not written it down somewhere.

I use other factors.

Incredulous, Leraje stared at me.

"I changed my body language as well."

"I noticed."

I wouldn't have hesitated as much had you not done that.

Mr. Scammer shook his head.

"What are you going to do then?"

"Hmm?"

I tilted my head, realizing what he could've thought.

To avoid any misunderstanding, I attempted to be as sincere as possible and explain my feelings from my point of view.

"I only asked because I wanted to know if it was indeed you. Moreover, I felt happy to meet an acquaintance in an unknown territory."

"Ha? Aren't you supposed to feel betrayed that I fooled you in this situation?"

As expected.

"How does that even make sense? It's not like you disguised yourself to specifically hide from me anyway, you can do what you want."

To reassure him, I added, "And what if you hid your identity from me in that room? What were you supposed to do? Say 'Hello, it's me from the 2nd scenario, but I'm currently pretending to be someone else for unknown reasons right now?'"

I'm pretty sure he doesn't really care about what I feel, though. It'd just be a shame if he used this opportunity to cut ties with me by taking advantage of my nonexistent betrayed feelings without asking for my opinion.

Leraje's temperament had now completely returned to how it was in the 2nd scenario, a shady yet bright grin on his face.

How do you manage to look so normal and so suspicious at the same time? I would've also fallen for your act if I hadn't seen many individuals like you.

"I guess you're right."