Chapter 349 - Behind the Scenes

"This… is this real?"

Yuuka's voice came out as a weak squeak. Even if the question was redundant, the others were very patient and understanding. After all, things like zombies and monsters were mostly fiction for mortals. Suddenly being handed this type of news was too much to absorb in a short period of time.

"Yes, this is real."

Yuuka inhaled sharply once more. The only chance anyone could take and tell her this was all a great joke was gone. It was real. There was no longer any reason for her not to believe. After all, who was she and who were these people?  

They were the Homura House. She was nothing but an unknown rich miss, and yet, these people took time to cater to her when it wasn't needed.

That's right. If it were other people, who cared if she and her family were at the brink of death due to this unknown infection? If they died, although their company would be affected, it wouldn't be as big as the people in this room.

Alinea watched as Yuuka tried her best to control her emotions – watched as the woman reigned in her fears. She took a deep breath and settled back down on the tatami looking composed.

Ali had to applaud Yuuka for that. It wasn't usual to see someone – most especially a pampered miss like her to be so reasonable. She looked at the others and saw that they were all looking at her with approval as well – most especially Ivan and Gin.

"Then, what should I do?"

If Yuuka looked totally alarmed earlier, she was now filled desperation. Her tone of voice also indicated that she wouldn't let them take her out of the circle – meaning that as long as her family was involved, she would demand to know what's going on.

It was fine with them. After all, in the end, Yuuka's memories, along with the other innocent ones remaining in the Maki household would be wiped clean of the events. They just needed her full cooperation now since they still had no idea what exactly they were dealing with.

Technically shadow lurkers – even those who were evolved were very easy to deal with. However, the special circumstances of those dark elementals – how they could easily pass on to another host was alarming. As deities protecting the world, they wanted to keep the number of casualties at the minimum.

"For starters, since we still have no idea how much the infection has spread, we'd like you to remain here."

"Eh?"Yuuka's eyes bulged. "Why? I can stay at a hotel. I don't want to trouble you more than you are already troubled with my family."

"It's fine. We won't be troubled at all," Gin ȧssured her.

"CEO Kazehaya, is this infection related to Homura International?" she asked with a frown.

"In a way, yes," Ryuu answered.

Yuuka's frown deepened. "Is… Is this infection your product?"

At the imagery it brought, Alinea almost couldn't stop her chuckle from escaping her lips.

"You watch too many movies, Yuuka."

"Well, I can't help but think it's like that, okay? Where did this infection come from anyway?"

Again, the others didn't mind the suspicion. It was a legitimate conclusion anyway. Why would the Homura House know about the infection if they weren't related to it? Why would they insist that she stayed at the Cedar Palace while they dealt with the problem if it was not connected to them?

"Actually, the infection has existed for five centuries now," Gin told her matter-of-factly.

"What?"Yuuka was shocked.

"Why didn't I hear anything about it until now?"Yuuka was dumbfounded.

"It's because the Homura House has been taking care of it from the shadows. Why do you think we established our clan – made it powerful enough that we can do whatever we want, yet, we don't meddle with politics?"

That's right. The Homura House had existed for so long and was totally capable of taking power, but they never did. Even at the time of the World Wars, they never participated. Normally all men were forced to join the army, but none were able to make the clan join. It remained a silent spectator as the world moved and only ever partook in commerce.

"It's because we only focus on the behind the scenes – the supernatural things that ordinary people can't deal with."

Yuuka was quiet; analyzing what she had been told and nodded. "I take it you need to have me monitored so I have to stay here?"

"That's right," Gin confirmed. "Technically, you can stay at a hotel. However, it's inconvenient for the people who would be monitoring you. Besides, there are other people at the hotel. You don't want them to be dragged in this matter."

"Your family is a possible host. They will try and take you with them," Ivan quipped as he took the last sip of his coffee. "Hosts are normally unaware they are infected and continue to live their lives, following their instincts and dėsɨrės. You are a child of that family. If your parents are harboring this infection, they will make sure you'll have it too."

Yuuka shuddered.

"But don't worry. The reason why we haven't dealt with this matter sooner was that something happened that prevented us from detecting the infection." Gin frowned at this. "This meant that something happened to Suzuki Daizo that stopped the infection from taking over him for a very long time, and it only started being active again after the IBEC."

"IBEC?" Yuuka, of course, knew about the business conference. "Isn't that when Daizo met Aki again after so long?"

Ryuu nodded. "That's right."

"Then…"

"Aki was the trigger that woke the infection within him."

Suzuki Daizo was trying to force Aki to announce his engagement to Yuuka at that time. But the older Suzuki thwarted his plans, making all the negative feelings flood in his heart, unlocking the seal that was placed, freeing the shadow lurker.

"But IBEC… Weren't you also there?"Yuuka asked Ryuu. "Didn't you see his infection then? Shouldn't the Homura House know how to detect this thing?"

Again, the Koutaishidenka nodded. 'Normally, I should."

"Then?"Yuuka prompted, and Ryuu's ice blue eyes turned hard as crystals.

"Then it means that the infection he has is not the usual. Evolved ones are difficult to detect – most especially those whose host can still think clearly."