The cooks and kids bring out platters of colorful food, although nothing too expensive and foreign, I’m sure the kids are excited none the less. I see that Lina has tastefully chosen the food to suit their young tastes while keeping a nutritional balance.

Hang on, is that an entire roast pig? Where did she even get that?

Since everyone is busy digging in, I bring the Sister to the next room to discuss something important in private.

Becca 「 We can talk now, right? Picking up from where we left off, you said that some tycoon is moving in and forcing everyone out? 」

Therse 「 Yeah. Initially no one wanted to abandon their homes, even with the decent prices he offered them. But then he changed and withdrew his offers, instead he started obstructing business, redirecting customer traffic. He took control of the local producers and started hiking prices. Combined with some stores he erected with record discount prices, no one could compete. 」

It sounds like tactics that border the line of tyranny, but I’m not too sure if any laws were broken. And if he did, he must have been confident of getting away with it. I should ask around some real estate companies about his reputation and how he operates. But I’m sure it will be the same as what the sister just told me. I could also hit up Prosecutor Julia to ask her for legal consultation.

Therese 「 He drove all the stores to closure and made us pay a fortune in utilities and supplies. Only a few stores that have a strong support like aunty’s store are still open, but they’ve let go of a lot of employees to stay in operation. 」

The sister pauses to let the situation sink in.

Therse 「 Frankly we’re at the end of our ropes. We only have so much food and money left. In a short time we’ll be going without electricity and water, and eating uncooked rice. I think I might have to give in. He won’t be giving any good conditions for us but I can’t let the kids stay here and suffer. Someone will come and redistribute the kids to other institutes. 」

Becca 「 What will happen to you? 」

Therse 「 Me? I’ll stay here for as long as possible. As long as I’m here, he won’t tear this place down. This place is my home, and the legacy left behind by my teacher, the late Sister Diane. I’ll die before I let it be wrecked. 」

The mood is somber and I can’t find the words to comfort her. I’ll just have to wing it and act like the hero I am.

Becca 「 Well, no worries. I’m sure together the two of us can do something. If need be, let’s just say I have a secret weapon I can use. 」

Sister Therese looks at me with tender eyes and affection, a rarity from her.

Therese 「 You don’t have to. This is an adult’s fight, you’re still young. Let this big sister here figure it out, you just live like how I taught you. Enough, let’s join the others for dinner. 」

The woman who raised me walks away with a tall, lonely back. If I remember, she also once taught me that, if I’m in a position to help and someone desperately needs it, I should do it right away and consider the ramifications at a later date. I guess it was better put in that internet phrase, just do it!

Right. Let’s just do it then. The sister doesn’t need to know about it.

Hm? I hear a commotion that doesn’t sound jovial. It is coming from the front door. Sister Therese’s voice is staying low but it sounds almost like a growl. I slip away from the room and walk towards her voice.

Therese 「 What are you doing here, Mr. Liberach? 」

Liberach 「 Please, Mr. Liberach was my father. You can call me, Sir M. Liberach. 」

Therese 「 Tell me what’s going on before I make you scram. 」

It seems that the sister’s guest is the very Liberach fellow that we were discussing. Talk about timing. I choose not to disturb them right away and eavesdrop on them. I spot a man wearing a gaudy suit that covers his tanned skin, his head a shiny reflective sphere with a small dab of hair in the middle. The few hairs on his balding head are waxed back and combed into something like a rooster’s head.

Liberach 「 Sister, I’ll be frank. There is a lot riding on this redevelopment plan and it won’t come to fruition until I have this place. It’s an old dump so trust me, I’m doing it a favor turning it into the next great condominium. 」

If there were a meter above the sister’s head measuring her rage it would have increased by like 20% after that claim.

Liberach 「 Honestly I feel bad for you. If you had accepted my earlier offer like some of your neighbors then you could have resettled somewhere better off. Of course it’s too late since I’ve withdrawn all my offers. You really shouldn’t spit on someone’s generosity. 」

I sense the rage meter is steadily climbing.

Liberach 「 Look, I’ll still show you some courtesy since I’m a fellow human. I can guarantee that the children will be allocated to institutions that I am on strong partnerships with. They will be glad to have a better home and caretakers. No offense of course. 」

Rage meter is dangerously close to blowing, and yet the sister hides it really well that one wouldn’t notice, save for the trembling of her arm’s muscles and clenched fists. The Liberach rich guy shows a look of disdain and pity.

Liberach 「 I see my philosophical words are wasted on you. Let’s put it this way, as things stand the ones who will suffer most will be the kids. I’m telling you that I can put them into better equipped facilities with excellent reputations. You’d never have to worry for them anymore. 」

Therese 「 I do not worry that they will lead harsh lives, what I worry about is that they will be corrupted by men like you and turn into scum. 」

Liberach 「 Why thank you for the compliments. But I’m being serious sister, this is my last act of goodwill. You won’t like what is to come next. It is in everybody’s best interest if you’ll just concede. Think of the children’s future that you’ll be ruining. 」

Sister Therese shows some hesitation amongst the rage. In her mind must be flashing images of the children and the hardships they put up with. Despite these conditions they continue to smile and act rambunctious. If they lost their home and the support of their brethren it would be miserable to imagine. And I can tell that the sister is imagining it very clearly as someone who grew up on the streets.

Therese 「 I… 」

Becca 「 She doesn’t need to consider it because everything will work out in the end. 」

I step out at such timing for maximum impact. The dazed sister and befuddled Liberach enter my sight and I just smirk at them.

Liberach 「 Who…? 」

Therese 「 Becca! I told you, this isn’t your concern. 」

Becca 「 Oh but it is. I can’t help myself. When I see a fat chicken I just feel the urge to roast it whole. 」

Liberach 「 Chicken? Are you possibly referring to me? 」

Becca 「 Would you prefer being the roast pig? Sorry, but we already have one. 」

Liberach’s eyebrows twitch and his face hardens into a demon’s.

Liberach 「 … Funny. The last person who called me a pig never returned from his trip to the hospital. 」