Hearing her father's poisonous oath, Mei dismissed her doubts.
Although her father had fallen into decline since her mother's death, undoubtedly, her mother remained the most important person in his heart.
As long as her father wasn't someone else in disguise, he would never lie using her mother's name.
At the same time, guilt surged in Mei's heart again.
When had she stopped believing even her father? To the point where he needed to swear in her mother's name to prove his innocence.
Lucius's peripheral vision caught Mei's guilty expression. Inwardly, he thought: plan successful.
He actually didn't even know Mei's mother's name.
However, the suspicion issue was temporarily settled for now.
After dispelling Mei's doubts, Lucius began painting grand visions for her.
"Mei, with your talent plus the technology in my hands, with our father-daughter partnership, we can definitely create a successful business."
Seeing Lucius so enthusiastic, Mei also became interested.
"Father, since you've decided to establish a company, have you thought of what to name it?"
To Mei's question, Lucius countered, "Mei, do you have any suggestions?"
"Eh?" Mei was stunned. "Father, you want me to name it?"
"I said this foundation is also being built for you. Of course you have the right to name it."
Hearing Lucius's words, Mei fell into thought. After a good while, she said, "In that case, then... how about Railgun Corporation?"
"Railgun Corporation?!"
Cold sweat broke out on Lucius's forehead.
"Mei, why such a name?"
Mei's eyes flashed with light. "Father, don't you think this name is really cool?"
So you Mei-types are all closet chuunibyou sufferers?
Lucius shook his head. "Not suitable, not suitable."
Disappointment flashed in Mei's eyes.
But this time Lucius didn't yield. After all, Raiden Mei, scientific researcher, Railgun Corporation...
This name seemed a bit too inauspicious.
After going in such a big circle, Lucius finally said, "How about we just call it ME Corp?"
"Eh? Directly naming it after me?" Mei was surprised.
"It's a foundation prepared for you anyway. Of course it should be named after my most cherished, most important daughter."
Hearing Lucius's words and remembering her recent experiences, comparing the contrast between them, Mei was so moved her eyes stung.
This warmth, this feeling of being cared for—how long had it been since she felt it?
Mother, can you see? Father has truly changed.
"Father..."
Looking at Mei whose eyes inexplicably welled up with tears, Lucius was confused.
Naming it ME Corp was just to keep the plot from deviating from its track. If it were called something else, what if this dummy system just didn't recognize it?
As for why he went in such a big circle... of course it was to give Mei some sense of participation. After all, Lucius had no intention of letting her scientific research talent continue gathering dust. Once ME Corp was established, this good daughter would be the chief researcher.
Physical items in the system shop were quite expensive, but knowledge-type items were much cheaper. He could completely form a research team to transform knowledge from the system shop into physical items.
That's when Mei's powerful scientific research talent could come into play.
So for ME Corp's establishment, he definitely needed to give her some sense of participation. With participation came efficiency in work.
"But Father, establishing an enterprise requires sufficient funding." Mei tactfully indicated that they didn't seem to have enough funds to form ME Corp.
Starting a business also required startup capital, especially this type of entity-oriented enterprise. It needed a complete production chain, qualified technical workers, and large tracts of land to build factories.
The initial investment would definitely be an astronomical figure.
However, to complete the check-in, Lucius had already made early preparations and naturally considered the funding problem.
"Don't worry, funding isn't a problem."
But Mei obviously misunderstood Lucius's thinking.
"Is Father going to seek investment? With the technology in your hands, many consortiums should be willing to invest..."
"Of course not. I never thought of cooperating with those consortiums. Take others' money and you'll be controlled by them."
Lucius looked at Mei seriously. "This is a foundation I'm preparing for you, a gift from father to daughter. How could I let others interfere?"
ME Corp had very important scenes later.
According to Lucius's conception, to complete the main storyline check-in for 'Escape from Nagazora,' he might offend quite a few local powers.
Taking others' money now would mean being constrained everywhere later.
Moreover, he didn't need to beg others for investment. In fact, he already had a solution.
Simply put, he wanted to stand tall and make money at the same time.
A gift for his daughter...
Hearing Lucius's words, Mei's eyes, which had just been wiped, reddened again. Tears couldn't help but surge forth once more.
However, although her heart was full of emotion, reason still pulled her back to reality.
"But Father, we don't have funds. If we don't seek investment from others, how do we obtain our first pot of gold?"
Lucius didn't answer this question. Instead, he took out a card-shaped item from his upper body pocket and handed it to Mei.
"Miss Eden's concert ticket?" After receiving it, Mei expressed surprise.
"Don't keep yourself wound so tight."
Lucius wiped her tears with a tissue.
"Take time to go see a concert with friends."
...
Time passed quickly. Another weekend afternoon.
Lucius sent a message asking Kiana out, still to that cold drink shop they frequently visited.
Inside the shop, the two sat facing each other, each with a cold drink in front of them.
This time Kiana wore a blue short jacket over a black form-fitting top. Her silver-white long hair was tied in a ponytail falling behind her. Overall, her outfit hadn't changed much from last time.
At this moment, she propped her face on one hand, holding a straw in her mouth, gently sipping her cold drink.
Then she said to Lucius, "By the way, Lucius, what have you been busy with lately?"
Lucius stirred the straw in his cold drink cup.
"I'm preparing to start a business."
"Huh?"
Confusion surged in Kiana's eyes.
"Saving the world also needs material support." Lucius smiled. "We can't really be like in anime, shouting about friendship and bonds and such, then rush out to battle Honkai, right?"
"That's true."
Kiana easily accepted this explanation, but she immediately thought of another problem.
"By the way, if starting a business, you'll need quite a bit of startup capital, right? Do you really have that much money?" Having been brothers for so long, she still didn't know Lucius's family circumstances. She'd never even heard him mention his family.
"That is indeed a problem, but I've already thought of a solution."
Seeing the confidence on Lucius's face, Kiana was stunned. Not knowing what she thought of, she suddenly sat up straight.
She fumbled around on herself, took out a black card gilded with golden patterns from her pocket, and pushed it in front of Lucius.
"Here, take it."
Looking at the black card pushed before him, Lucius was rarely stunned. "What is this?"
Kiana took a sip of her cold drink and said carelessly, "Allowance my family's given me over the years. I don't usually have anywhere to spend money, so I saved it all up. The amount should be quite substantial."
Seeing the calm on her face, Lucius suddenly remembered that his good brother's family circumstances weren't simple either—originally from a prominent European family.
Lucius was stunned. He first looked at Kiana, then at the card on the table.
This feels so weird.
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