Chapter 237 - Departure

While Finn and Char Char were having their conversation, Corbin Nao followed his boss to an office on the second floor of the manor.

The blue room. Corbin noted with significance as they entered the room. The office, notable for its diamond patterned blue carpet and distinguished dark stained book shelves, was rarely used by the Tycoon. Aside from the decor and the somewhat secluded location facing an inner courtyard, the office wasn’t particularly special.

Instead, it was more that it held a personal significance to Sansen Zhao - He only used the office for matters that were deeply associated with the Exalted world.

The older man ran his hands along the back of the light blue couch in the centre of the room as he passed it, “Corbin, how is the company’s performance these past weeks?”

“Ah, it’s about that?” Corbin hesitated slightly, not expecting the fairly mundane question, “I’m only halfway through the ledgers for the week, do you need a full report?”

“Just a summary is fine.” Sansen said, making his way to a set of chairs next to a stone fireplace. He took a seat, gesturing for Corbin to sit opposite him.

“Local sales have taken a hit, but nothing worth worrying about. Shipments through the Altic sea have mostly returned to normal after the trade ministry removed the restrictions last week. In fact, the captains are saying that sailing on that sea has never been smoother. Shipping times are faster and profits are up. We’ve had to divert some trade routes in the south to avoid the new boundaries of the Chenmai Forest. Overall profits are down but the disruption has hurt business less than anticipated.”

“The company is running smoothly? Any issues with staff?” 

“All is well.” Corbin held back a frown as he tried to anticipate what Sansen was getting at. Staffing and overall company health was under Corbin’s main duties. Was it an unscheduled performance review? Or perhaps he’d made a mistake somewhere, “Ms. Cheng and Mr. Fan are a good team, I have them handling all the day to day operations now. I barely have to supervise them.”

“Good.” Sansen nodded, “When is the shipment from Banbajan due?”

“Tomorrow, or the day after.” Corbin paused, confused by the sudden shift in the conversation topic, “A telegram was sent from Lostport confirming its arrival on this side of the sea.”

“Do you have any personal plans coming up in the next few months?”

Corbin couldn’t help but look perplexed as he couldn’t figure out where his boss was going with these random questions, “Nothing important.” 

Sansen’s eyes suddenly grew gloomy as he leaned forward on the chair, looking straight at Corbin’s eyes. Corbin’s eyes darted around uncomfortably as a sense of foreboding grew in him. He could tell that something important was weighing on the tycoon’s mind, and that ‘something’ directly involved him. 

“Out of all my staff, you are the most capable and competent.” Sansen said, “Throughout these years you have proven yourself as my right hand man.”

Corbin’s ears perked as he heard the unsolicited compliments.

“You’ve come so far since the day that I hired you as a consultant.” Sansen nodded, “Who would have thought, twenty years ago, that we’d end up here.”

“I have you to thank.” Corbin said, “For giving me the chance.”

“You are not just reliable in business, but also in times of danger.” Sansen added, “Certainly many of our business partners heard of your bravery in saving the girls from the monster that hatched during our festival ball.”

Corbin swallowed as he nodded, his mind suddenly whirring up as he connected the dots.

Sansen had the weight of the whole company on his shoulders, but in the past few years, he had been handing more and more important clients and responsibilities to Corbin. The reason was obvious- he was preparing his successor, and Corbin was the natural fit.

Is this it? The thought bubbled up in his mind. His fingers started tingling, his heart pumped faster. Is he retiring, and handing the company over to me? Surely not, I shouldn’t get excited. But- if it is…

“It was my duty-“ Corbin said, cursing inwardly as his trembling voice betrayed his excitement, “My duty to the company and to you.”

Sansen nodded, falling into a gloomy silence again.

Just say it already! Corbin whined internally, finding himself unable to bear the silence. His thoughts flickered between exuberance and doubt, and he found himself unable to think of what other topic would weigh on Sansen’s mind so heavily that the old man couldn’t just bring up his thoughts directly.

At length, Sansen’s eyes grew serious and he said, “I have a request.”

“Anything.” Corbin said. And internally he told himself, “This is it”. He prepared himself to hide his joy and retain a dignified appearance.

“I need you to watch over Char Char on her journey to Huan.”

“I’m truly honoured, sir. I won’t disappoint you- eh?” Something shattered in Corbin’s mind as he processed the words.

“Oh? That’s good then!” Sansen’s eyes lit up as he smiled with relief, “I knew I could count on you!”

“I- wait, count on me, sir?” Corbin stuttered.

“Even though we’ve already arranged a security company to protect and accompany Char Char, I’ve been unable to sleep soundly.” Sansen sighed heavily, “I need someone I trust to look out for her, to keep her safe. I couldn’t think of anyone else but you for this task.”

He stood up, smiling once again, “With you escorting her, I won’t have any worries.”

Corbin stood up shakily, “Ah, but- the company, my duties-“

“Thanks to your competence, it’s running fine. I’ll pick up your clients in the time being - they’re all my old associates, after all. We can tell them you’re on a business trip.” 

Sansen walked past Corbin on his way to the door, patting him firmly on the shoulder, “Thank you, you truly are the person I can depend on the most.”

“Of course, sir.” Corbin’s words came out as barely a whisper, “You can count on me.”

Corbin turned slowly, his mind paralyzed with shock as he watched Sansen walk to the door. The giddiness and excitement he had felt only moments ago was replaced by the ice cold realization that he had been assigned once more to be Char Char’s chaperone.

Not again!

~

A week later, all the preparations had been made.

Char Char sat in the main sitting room, enjoying a final cup of tea with her grandfather. The first rays of sunlight poured in through the window, casting a warm glow over the room.

Corbin had left earlier that morning with a carriage carrying two trunks of their belongings. He was to rendezvous outside of the city with the Red Lion Security Company who had been hired as escorts for the trip. 

These were Char Char’s Exalted friends who had trained her and introduced her to the Exalted world. She hadn’t seen or contacted them since the events around the God of Life, but she was excited to get back in touch.

The only thing left was Char Char’s exit from the estate. Char Char’s affiliation with the white maiden truly was a source of concern for Lord Noga. Sansen Zhao had drawn on his connections and made special deals to keep the police away from his property, but this didn’t stop them from maintaining a strict surveillance outside the grounds. 

The police had set up a perimeter outside of the estate grounds, keeping close watch on the people who came and went. They were also monitoring the space for any planar travel. Their specialty was the astral plane, but Finn had noted that even travel in the spiritual and aetheric planes could be detected, if not immediately tracked.

Any ‘normal’ method of escape would at the very least be detected, triggering an investigation which would reveal Char Char’s disappearance from the estate.

At the appointed time there was a knock on the door, and a maid entered the room. Her uniform was crisp and clean, with not a thread out of place. She had a doll-like appearance, with pale skin and a calm, emotionless expression. 

Chloe was Sansen’s personal maid, and Char Char had recently learned that she was also his bodyguard, an Exalted who had protected Sansen and those around him since before Char Char was born. 

The most striking thing about Chloe was her dispassionate nature. To other people, she was the perfect picture of a maid - quiet, obedient, unobtrusive. But being around Chloe for years, Char Char always found it strange that Chloe never broke this image, not even once. 

With Char Char’s Rebel intuition she came to a startling conclusion that Chloe truly seemed devoid of personality. She had no aspirations, no fears, no hobbies or emotions. When she’d asked her grandfather about it, he said that it appeared to be a side effect of her Exalted path, and that it was nothing to worry about.

“Good morning, sir.” Chloe said, placing her hands in front of her navel and bowing formally, “Good morning, miss.” 

“Good morning,” Char Char replied.

Sansen took a sip of tea, nodding to Char Char, “Are you ready?”

“Yes, grandpa.” Char Char replied.

Chloe walked up to the table, retrieving an item from her apron pocket. It was a small brass mirror. Chloe had never revealed this mysterious item before, but Char Char knew from her Rebel powers that the maid always had it on her person.

This item was the secret ticket to Char Char’s escape from the mansion.

“Are you ready, miss?” Chloe asked.

“Yes.” Char Char said, glancing at her grandfather.

Sansen’s lips were taut as he forced a warm smile. The wrinkles at the edge of his eyes betrayed his worry and concern. He was putting on a strong, confident face, but he couldn’t hide his inner emotions from her.

“I’ll be back soon, grandpa.” Char Char said.

“Stay safe.” He replied.

With a nod from Sansen, Chloe opened the mirror’s brass cover and pointed it at Char Char.

Char Char’s spiritual intuition triggered as she looked at it, but instead of seeing her reflection in the mirror she saw a deep, dark void.

In the blink of an eye she found herself surrounded by darkness looking up at a circle of light above her. She saw Chloe’s doll-like face look down at her. 

They made eye contact briefly, then Chloe closed the lid of the mirror, leaving Char Char in complete, silent darkness.