Chapter 304: My Name Is

Arasaka Hanako's arrival was, of course, the most eye-catching moment of the entire banquet. Many guests who were in the middle of eating immediately put down their plates, wiped their hands on napkins handed over by attendants, and respectfully bowed with their heads lowered and hands at their sides.

Within Arasaka, there was an unspoken rule that subordinates must unconditionally obey their superiors and show the appropriate respect. And now, across the entire American continent, there was only one person whose rank surpassed Hanako's within Arasaka. Since that person wasn't present today, every Arasaka employee in attendance had to show due deference to Hanako's arrival.

Just as everyone was about to bow, Hanako halted their unnecessary actions.

She slightly raised her right hand, subtly motioning for them to stop, and spoke to the guests in the hall: "Let's not be so formal today. Please, everyone, enjoy this rare moment of relaxation."

"Yes!"

In unison, the guests responded. Karl, meanwhile, caught sight of V out of the corner of his eye.

That bastard took advantage of everyone bowing to snag another piece of steak, chewing away happily.

So you really are just here for the food, huh? I want to eat too! They say a full belly is best for getting work done—but you're doing the work while eating.

As Karl kept an eye on V, many Arasaka executives—some familiar, some not—moved closer to Hanako, standing just outside the invisible boundary drawn by Chidame's wary gaze, humbly attempting conversation.

Hanako, smiling as always, responded to each of them in turn—some pledging loyalty, others seeking support.

The banquet didn't truly begin until Hanako appeared. And as the upper-level executives gathered around her, the families they had brought along began mingling as well.

Banquets like this were prime opportunities to build connections—discussing inter-family business deals, internal corporate faction dynamics, even marriage arrangements between sons and daughters. It might have been a "relaxing" banquet on the surface, but who said you couldn't take a step forward for your future during such occasions?

Anyone who didn't use such a gathering of influential people to their advantage and instead focused solely on eating and drinking? They were no better than fools. Such people were destined to be weeded out.

The pressure to compete in Arasaka came from the top down. The competition within the Arasaka Academy was nothing compared to what went on inside the company.

Quite a few guests threw discreet glances of disdain at V as they passed him. To them, this so-called second squad leader of the ops team was just a brainless nobody. At a time like this, rather than humbly offering his services, he was eating and drinking like a fool. Not worth paying any attention to.

Next time they saw him, surely someone else would have taken his place.

Amid the mingling and scheming, Karl had made up his mind.

He didn't need to slow time to sneak food. He just had to unlock the lower half of his helmet and snag something from a passing attendant, then sneak bites from underneath. No fuss, no mess.

If you're helping yourself, so am I.

With that in mind, Karl set his sights on an attendant carrying a tray of Italian sausage slices who was due to pass right in front of him. He figured he'd start small—just a taste.

But just as his gaze was trailing that attendant, someone walked up and blocked his view. The attendant, seeing someone in Karl's path, rerouted.

Sausage slices...!

Karl inwardly wailed, then shifted his attention to the person who had interrupted. When he saw who it was, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

No way. Why is she coming over here?

The person walking up to him—the one who'd inadvertently blocked the server—was none other than Karl's old friend from the academy.

The blue-haired girl stopped in front of him. Because of the height difference, she had to look up slightly to see his helmet. Her brows furrowed as she stared.

Not good.

As Karl's sense of doom deepened, the girl finally spoke.

"Gaius?"

"…No."

She relaxed her frown, her expression turning into one of realization. Then she smiled brightly and said, "You must be Karl."

"Keep your voice down!"

Karl didn't know how she'd recognized him, but he had no intention of lying to her. He just hurriedly lowered his voice and signaled for her not to make a scene.

Hearing Karl's voice—unfiltered by any behavioral sync module, sounding both unfamiliar and familiar—the girl's smile grew even more radiant.

"I didn't expect it to really be you. What a coincidence."

"It is," Karl said. "Though your instincts are as sharp as ever. Back at the academy, you knew I was leaving before I even said anything. And now, even with me in a full combat uniform and helmet, you still figured it out."

He knocked on his helmet for emphasis, then gestured to the side. "Go stand over there, grab a drink, and pretend you're avoiding the crowd. Us chatting like this is bound to attract attention."

"Okay. Be right back."

The girl nodded and went off to grab a drink from one of the attendants. Soon she returned with a glass of what smelled like refreshing watermelon juice.

Leaning casually against the wall beside Karl, she raised her glass and appeared to sip. But her lips moved slightly, and she asked:

"It's been three months since you left school, hasn't it? How've you been? Are you here on a job today?"

"More or less okay," Karl replied. "Can't say it's been great—definitely not as cozy as you enjoying a banquet—but I've been making the most of the days. And yeah, I'm working… though you know I can't say much about that. Got a reputation to uphold."

"Is that so?" the girl said, setting down her glass and tilting her head. "I've heard your name now, you know."

"Oh? So you finally know who I am? I am kind of a big deal. I told you back then—you were just out of the loop."

"Come on, back then you were still a no-name rookie."

"Please, I was already famous. You were just oblivious."

"Fine, fine. I'll admit it."

The blue-haired girl laughed softly and took another sip of juice. Then, turning her face slightly toward Karl, she asked:

"So then… now that we're here, can we formally meet again? Gaius?"

Karl understood what she meant.

He turned to face her and nodded. "Of course. Let me introduce myself properly: I'm Karl. Karl with a 'K.'"

"Nice to meet you."

The girl smiled warmly and said: "My name is Maki—Maki Takemura."

.

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