Black Orca Baby (41)
Episode 41
What is this? What’s going on?
It was a state of panic I hadn’t felt in a long time since my regression.
No, isn’t this the first time I’ve panicked this much since regressing in this life?
But I soon regained my composure.
‘First, I need to figure out this situation.’
Everyone was focused on Pierre and me.
Even Agenor seemed taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected this situation—well, of course, he wouldn’t have.
‘Agenor already gave me all the answers. He didn’t even know this was happening.’
So, what can I do?
I whipped my head around.
I met Dad’s eyes.
I felt complicated emotions at first, but this wasn’t the time to think about that.
‘Smile.’
I smiled as brightly and beautifully as I could.
“Dad!!”
And as if I had been waiting for this, I jumped off the chair and ran towards him.
This conference hall was structured so that it descended one step at a time towards the door.
So, I could jump towards Dad from the end of the stairs.
‘Please, please catch me. Please!’
Fortunately, Dad caught me easily.
He held me without saying a word, though.
Yeah, it’s better if he doesn’t say anything!
I grinned and hugged Dad’s neck tightly.
“Dad, you said you couldn’t come. You said you were sick… Are you okay now? Huh?”
While smiling brightly, I was internally switching between hot and cold baths [experiencing conflicting emotions rapidly].
I had no idea what Pierre was thinking.
‘Damn it, am I going to be dropped on the ground like this?’
Let’s think about what to say in that case.
Anyway, I showed behavior that matched the rumors, the rumors I spread!
‘Silence is not an option. Please react somehow. Anything….’
Now, all that was left was to figure out Dad’s intentions, which I couldn’t understand.
‘No, is silence better?’
My heart was pounding harder than ever in this life.
I hugged his neck and closed my eyes tightly.
Something was placed on my head and then removed.
“Yes. I feel better now.”
Still hugging Dad, I blinked.
Since I was facing the wall, no one could see my expression.
“I caused you worry.”
…Only Dad would know that I had stiffened.
‘You, you could talk this normally?’
By the time all the bewilderment had passed, Dad had arrived at the seat I had been sitting in, still holding me.
Everyone was as bewildered as I was, and it was only after Dad arrived that I heard people exhaling from all directions.
“Do I need to confirm attendance separately?”
“…No. Pierre, your attendance has been confirmed.”
Ryla said in as businesslike a tone as possible.
Chaya looked like she couldn’t believe what she had insisted on.
“It’s been a while, Pierre. I never thought I would see you like this….”
“My daughter was so worried that she didn’t tell me the exact date. Thanks to that, I was a little late.”
Well, am I dreaming again?
But when I saw the languid, cool eyes in front of me, I knew it was reality again.
‘How should I interpret this?’
I swallowed hard, unnoticed.
I clenched my fist tightly.
No, let’s think positively for now.
It seemed like this Dad was trying to cover everything up and cooperate with me for the time being.
‘I don’t know why, though.’
This tension should be postponed until after the disciplinary committee.
When I glanced over, Baiyan was also standing up in shock.
Even my usually calm aunt was staring at Dad in surprise.
‘Good, as long as he’s not here to mess up this meeting.’
I felt confident.
I had overcome the only weakness in this meeting.
“This, this is invalid. He didn’t attend in advance!”
“Baiyan, all three of us, the chairpersons, have agreed. I hope you haven’t forgotten the oath you made to be truthful and faithful when the meeting started.”
Baiyan frowned slightly at Ryla’s firm words.
‘Good job, Ryla.’
But he wouldn’t stay still, would he?
A stream of water rose from behind Baiyan. It was a fierce, angry water.
But his power was swallowed by another power.
“Son, sit down.”
“…Mother.”
“Didn’t the chairperson acknowledge it?”
“……”
My aunt, with her almost closed eyes, turned her head towards Baiyan, and only then did Baiyan grit his teeth and sit down.
Bang!
He broke the desk in the process.
‘Tsk, even if he does that, he doesn’t understand the essence of this meeting. What a fool.’
This meeting was as good as decided.
A disciplinary committee is like a trial with a jury, where the details of the meeting are shown, and each person argues their grievances and circumstances in detail, and then the level of punishment is determined, including the jury.
So, the chairpersons and retainers aren’t just there for show; they are the people you need to impress in this meeting.
‘Does that guy not realize that this result will reach Grandma’s ears, or is he just not thinking about it?’
Well, it’s good if he self-destructs.
I was seriously watching and smiling slightly when I felt a gaze.
I met Dad’s eyes.
I subtly avoided them, then quickly turned back and smiled brightly.
‘Don’t forget, smile.’
Dad smirked.
…It was such a condescending expression that I felt a cold sweat on the back of my neck.
“There was a slight disturbance, but we will now begin the main agenda. If anyone has any objections, please raise your hand towards the chairperson.”
The remaining chairperson, who had been silent until now, spoke slowly. It was the real beginning.
I straightened my back and prepared to speak at any moment.
“This meeting will….”
“Excuse me!”
The door burst open with the chairperson’s words.
It was a very loud noise compared to when Dad opened it silently.
The chairperson, interrupted, frowned.
Ryla and Chaya were the same, but they all fell silent when they saw who had entered.
“What brings the head of the family’s attendant here?”
“It is the head of the family’s command!”
That’s because the person who had just entered was the head of the family’s direct attendant.
‘The head of the family’s command?’
Why would Grandma, who is currently holding a family meeting somewhere, come out?
‘I have a bad feeling.’
This is a won battle. I can’t just let this opportunity pass.
I was frowning at the bad feeling.
“From now on, this Supreme Disciplinary Committee will move to the Hall of Strife.”
I widened my eyes.
“Therefore, it will be resumed within the family meeting where the head of the family is present!”
…What?
What is this supposed to mean?
I stared at the attendant, frozen.
‘No, what is this really supposed to mean!’
It’s too much to drop an orca into a perfectly cooked meal [ruin a perfectly good situation].
‘The family meeting is that guy’s turf!’
The current situation was that Baiyan’s amazing own goal meant that his punishment was as good as decided if things continued as they were.
In fact, educational institutions have a greater influence in this orca society than you might think.
Just look at Chaya, the chair of the intermediate institution; she was a comrade of Grandma’s.
Therefore, having a record of punishment for Baiyan, a strong successor candidate, in the Supreme Disciplinary Committee has a greater meaning than you might think.
I can’t stand not throwing mud at the guy who dared to hit me and my twin.
‘I was leading Baiyan into a bad atmosphere, and now this!’
What’s going on?
To continue this disciplinary committee in Grandma’s presence, in a family meeting?
‘That’s ridiculous.’
I gritted my teeth inwardly.
While struggling to hide my rotting expression, I saw the faces of Baiyan and his gang brightening noticeably.
‘The family meeting is where that guy’s forces are stationed.’
A strong successor candidate means there are many followers.
Especially in a family meeting with many collateral relatives and retainers, the side with more numbers is bound to be more advantageous.
‘In the end, this is no different from Baiyan going to a favorable position.’
Baiyan and his gang, who knew this very well, were now in a festive mood.
Even my usually calm aunt was smiling as if she was enjoying it.
“Um, sister. What should we do?”
Agenor asked cautiously.
‘Grandma’s command is absolute here.’
Since the head of the family has ordered it, it was as good as decided.
“What else can we do? There’s no choice.”
‘I really wanted to see that guy get screwed.’
Just as I was about to bite my lip and sigh in resignation, a low voice echoed.
“It’s okay.”