Chapter 168: Visitors

Following the Iida Commercial District Ruins incident, Akira’s injuries had once again landed him in the hospital. Upon awakening, he had immediately received visits from Shiori, who wanted him to transfer ownership of the white card to Reina’s group, and from Kibayashi, who sought Akira’s permission to negotiate on the boy’s behalf for the rights to the Old World automatons. Akira had listened to each request and had readily agreed to both.

Now, thanks to a treatment procedure that would set him back seventy million aurum, he was already completely healed—yet just listening to his two visitors had left him thoroughly exhausted, and he lay back down on the bed to rest. The doctor overseeing his care was expected to appear shortly to take care of the paperwork for his release, but he could take a quick nap in the meantime.

Or so he thought. Before the doctor showed up, Akira had two more visitors—Sheryl and Inabe.

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A short time earlier, Sheryl was hard at work at her base when she got a call from Inabe.

“Why, Mr. Inabe, it’s so good to hear from you! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I just got word that Akira’s finally awake from his comatose state at the hospital,” said the executive, “and I was thinking it might finally be time to introduce myself. I’d like to accompany you when you decide to visit him, so what’s your schedule look like? I’d prefer to head there right away if possible. Sheryl? Are you there? Sheryl?”

At the sound of her name, Sheryl recovered from her shock, barely holding back a shriek and forcing herself to appear calm. “My apologies, I was just checking my schedule. Yes, I’m free right now.”

“Very well. Then I’ll send for a car and pick you up in thirty minutes.”

“Thank you very much. I’ll see you later, then.”

She hung u