Chapter 83: Investment - Part 6
"I was expecting you to bring Jess. So why are you with these two Harem Lords, Jeff?"
To answer Nubia’s question, Jeff cleared the low table in front of them, setting aside the bags of food on the floor. Kris and Marc then placed three new duffel bags on the table before giving their response.
—"We’re here to make an investment."—
Nubia grinned, delighted and curious about what kind of investment her three underlings were proposing. However, when she opened one of the duffel bags, curious about what was inside that they could possibly offer as leverage, her grin quickly shifted to shock.
"So you finally did it," Nubia said, glaring at Jeff with daggers—not because she was angry, but because she was genuinely worried about what she thought Jeff had done.
"Tell me, Jeff... which bank did you rob?"
"Once again, do I really look like someone who would rob a bank?"
"Then explain to me where and how you got this ridiculous amount of money!"
Bringing the fifteen million dollars they had taken from Trud to Nubia as leverage for an investment meant explaining how they had acquired it. There was no way they could fool her—she knew neither they nor their families were capable of obtaining such a ridiculous sum. That left them with no choice but to tell Nubia the truth if they wanted a safe and legitimate way to launder the money.
Still, that shouldn’t be a problem. Jeff, Kris, and Marc trusted and believed that their senpai would be on their side. Their only concern was—
"You bastards! How dare you all leave me out!"
—she would definitely get mad about being excluded from everything that happened and for putting themselves in danger.
The three duffel bags, each containing five million dollars, landed squarely on their faces as Nubia furiously threw them one by one, demanding every detail about the incident that was still spreading like wildfire throughout Central City.
Jeff explained everything to Nubia—from when Jess turned down Trud, to how they beat Trud and his henchmen during their vacation trip, to Trud abducting him, and finally, to how the three of them exposed Trud’s crimes.
"That fucking bastard."
Nubia remained furious, not because she was left out of something exciting, but because she knew some of the women who had fallen victim to Trud.
Putting aside her anger, there was still one thing she was concerned about.
"Did you three kill those bastards who died?"
Beating Trud and his men half to death and taking their money was something Nubia could tolerate—but killing crossed a line for her.
"Of course not."
"We didn’t kill anyone."
Kris and Marc told the truth. Even Nubia couldn’t detect any hint of guilt or remorse in their voices or expressions. It was the same for Jeff. However—
"You’re right, Nubia-senpai. I’m the one who killed those bastards."
—he wouldn’t deny or run away from the fact that he was responsible for their deaths. At least, not to Nubia, Kris, and Marc.
Kris and Marc were stunned at first, but they soon understood what Jeff meant. And it wasn’t like they’d let him shoulder all the responsibility alone and act cool on his own.
"Their blood is on my hands—"
"—And it’s not a stain I can wash off my ledger."
"Argh~!" Nubia growled in frustration, worried about the crime—or rather, the sin—her three underlings had committed.
Regardless, her caring nature toward those she valued as companions, those important to her, wouldn’t allow her to abandon Kris and Marc—especially not Jeff.
"You do realize this makes me your accomplice in what you did, right?"
—"Please help us, Nubia-senpai!"—
Jeff, Kris, and Marc pleaded in unison, bowing low with their hands and knees on the floor.
"Fine... let’s talk about this investment."
—"Thank you, Nubia-senpai!"—
With Nubia’s approval to handle—or rather, to launder—the fifteen million dollars as investment funds, Jeff took the lead in explaining the details as they sat down for lunch.
"An all-female idol group?" Nubia murmured, considering Jeff’s suggestion.
It wasn’t as if Nubia hadn’t thought of creating an all-female idol group for the PoruMerc women’s division. After all, she needed to raise more income for their division so her father could become the new CEO of the PoruMerc fashion company.
Surely the plan could work, regardless of how popular—or risky—the idol group might become.
When she had first considered the idea, she simply hadn’t had the budget to fund such a project. But now, that wasn’t a problem.
"I’m guessing that’s not all of your plan, right?" Nubia asked, foreseeing what Jeff, Kris, and Marc were about to suggest next.
"Aside from the funds, we could also provide the girls," Jeff said, gesturing toward Kris and Marc, who lifted their chins proudly.
"You freaking Harem Lords."
Nubia was right—Kris and Marc wanted their girlfriends to join the idol group. The two were proud and confident that their girlfriends would pass as idols, not just in beauty but in talent as well.
"What about you, Jeff? Don’t tell me you want Jess in the idol group too. I already told you, I want her as a model—"
"Of course not. Jess wouldn’t pass as an idol."
—"Huh?"—
Seeing everyone’s shocked faces at his blunt remark about Jess, Jeff gave the simplest explanation.
"We’re twins, after all," he said, flashing a smug grin at Kris and Marc.
—"She isn’t your real sister, so stop bragging, bastard!"—
"Explain it properly already."
Ignoring Kris and Marc’s jealous outburst, Jeff continued eating his lunch as he replied to Nubia.
"Jess might be perfect as a model, but she’s a tone-deaf singer—just as bad as me."
—"Pfft...Hahaha!"—
Seeing Nubia, Kris, and Marc laughing and enjoying themselves, Jeff couldn’t help but feel nostalgic, remembering the times they had spent together—both in this timeline and in the future before he died and regressed.
This time, he was determined to complete all the Quests of the Returner Fantasy System—to change his fate, survive, and spend more time with them.
Their discussion ended with the final agreement: Jeff, Kris, and Marc would be the official founders and managers of the idol group to earn back their investment.
After finishing lunch, the pervert trio were about to leave. But before Jeff could step out the door to follow Kris and Marc outside, Nubia grabbed his hand, stopping him.
"Where do you think you’re going, Jeff? We haven’t discussed Jess’s employment yet."