Devil’s Music

The day after Geon and Alisher Usmanov met Arthur in Ambleside.

Arthur packed up and moved to London. Alisher Usmanov provided him with the costs of a hotel and meals, and the workshop was to use the office of a designer they had hired.

Unable to stay in the UK until the prototype was completed, Geon returned to the US, but not before exchanging phone numbers with Arthur and promising to stay in touch. After receiving Geon's number, Arthur murmured as if enchanted, "I... I got Kay's number..."

Arthur, who could hardly believe it, made a direct call in front of Geon and brightly smiled when Geon’s phone rang from his pocket.

Before returning to the US, Geon conveyed a request to Arthur, and that afternoon, he flew back to the US with his group.

Walking through the streets of London to head to the designer's office, Arthur recalled his recent conversation with Geon and frowned.

"Learn to play the drums? What’s all this suddenly about?"

As soon as Geon left, Alisher Usmanov called to inform him about the location and timings of the drum lessons, bewildering Arthur.

"Why would a clockmaker need to learn drums? I don't understand."

It seemed to have rained a bit as Arthur, now smiling, surveyed the damp streets of London.

"Well, why not! Let's work hard on the prototype and get investment from Alisher Usmanov as well! Since Kay’s investment is already decided, let's try to make it right one more time!"

Filled with hope, Arthur ran through the streets towards the designer's office. Meanwhile, sitting in first class on a flight to the US, Shizuka took off her earphones and looked at Geon.

"What was the reason you told that Arthur to learn drums?"

Geon, slightly sleepy, grinned and replied.

"That man has a metronome inside him."

Shizuka widened her eyes in disbelief.

"What do you mean? A metronome inside a person?"

Geon flicked his index finger.

"Tick, tock. He has a metronome in his head."

After pondering for a moment, Shizuka asked.

"Does this mean he has an exceptional sense of rhythm?"

Geon continued to move his finger and chuckled.

"Not just exceptional. He has a sense of timing that could match an atomic clock. What do you think would happen if such a person played drums?"

Imagining Arthur's drumming, Shizuka replied.

"He could play with precise timing, right?"

"Ha-ha, is that all? The drummer leads the band. Many bands have a guitarist or vocalist as the leader because they compose, not because they are the center of performance. Whether it's guitar or vocals, everyone plays or sings to the beat laid down by the drums. Precise timing is a very critical issue."

"Hmm, you’re right. Otherwise, every musician would need a metronome for practice."

"Exactly, that’s why I told him to learn."

From behind, Kevin popped his head up.

"What? Recruiting a drummer? If it's a drummer, that's my wife’s role; you should discuss it with me!"

Geon looked up at him with a smile.

"You're from Montana, Kevin."

Kevin, pulling at his hair, exclaimed.

"Montana, sure! But if you're forming a band, I'm definitely the bassist, okay?"

"Ha-ha, really?"

"Sorry to Carlos, but I've decided that! Promise, I'm your bassist!"

Childishly, Kevin extended his pinky finger, which Geon saw and laughed, crossing his legs and smirking.

"Hmm~ What should I do~"

Kevin then choked Geon from behind.

"Promise now! Or we'll both die right here!"

"Ha-ha, okay, okay."

Kevin, not joking, looked serious as he extended his pinky finger again.

"Promise."

As Geon laughed and promised, Shizuka also extended her pinky finger.

"I’ll definitely be the keyboardist."

"Ha-ha, okay."

After promising Shizuka, Geon smiled, and Kevin leaned his elbow on Geon's chair and propped his chin on his hand.

"But that guy's a clockmaker and has gotten investment, he must be busy with business, right? Will he even have time for drumming or performing?"

Geon, still chuckling, flicked his foot.

"Ha-ha, do you know what happens when someone with a metronome in their body plays drums?"

Kevin looked down at Geon and asked.

"What happens?"

Geon, shifting his gaze to the clouds outside the airplane window, grinned.

"He'll go crazy. He won't be able to stand it until the rhythm inside him comes out right, and that will lead to effort."

Listening quietly, Shizuka asked with puzzled eyes.

"It's painful? What

if music becomes a pain?"

"Ha-ha, if he works hard to reproduce the rhythm inside him, he'll feel even greater joy, so don't worry."

Kevin still looked confused.

"Well, I get that he might practice hard, but will he really join a band? He's busy with his own business."

Geon, untroubled, replied.

"Ha-ha, I've already finished talking about that with Mr. Alisher Usmanov."

"What's the story?"

"Ha-ha, you don’t need to know."

"Aaaaaah!! I’m dying of curiosity! Tell me!"

As Kevin yelled, a stewardess approached and said.

"Sir, you're disturbing other guests. Please sit down and lower your voice."

Kevin, nodding respectfully to the stewardess, sat down next to Geon's seat and whispered.

"Tell me! I can't sleep!"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!!!"

"Stop laughing, tell me!"

Playfully laughing, Geon turned over to face Shizuka, briefly meeting her eyes before closing his. Shizuka, unable to take her eyes off Geon’s face even as Kevin fussed in the background, finally looked away only when Geon woke up.

Meanwhile, Alisher Usmanov, after several days of bustling guests, returned to his mansion and headed to his study. As the butler followed him into the study and took his coat, Usmanov asked.

"Find me a specialist CEO."

The butler slightly bowed his head.

"Understood."

"Preferably an expert in jewelry or watches."

"Yes, that would be best."

"How's the gold buying going?"

"We’re still acquiring it. But buying gold bars might hit us with a tax bomb at year-end; are you sure that's okay?"

"Yes, yes. Pay the taxes and buy it clean, I don’t want regrets later if they refuse to accept it citing some issue."

The butler, slightly lifting his head, looked puzzled.

"Transfer to whom, may I ask?"

"You don’t need to worry, just focus on acquiring it properly."

"Ah, yes, understood. And..."

As the butler hesitated, Usmanov turned his head and prompted.

"And?"

Glancing around to ensure no one was listening, the butler spoke in a low voice.

"The CIA is snooping around because of the Tsuh Mei incident."

Usmanov's expression hardened.

"The CIA? Why not Chinese security?"

"It seems there was some connection with Tsuh Mei."

After a moment of thought, Usmanov nodded decisively.

"Connect me to Peter Henderson, the chief prosecutor of the CPS."

"Yes, I'll prepare it immediately."

As the butler left, Usmanov alone reviewed documents from the International Fencing Federation he was overseeing. After more than an hour of focused work, he heard the door open but did not look up.

"Is the call connected?"

Receiving no response, Usmanov looked up only to freeze. He frantically moved back as he stammered.

"Why, why… I’ve done nothing wrong, why again…?"

His eyes caught the sight of Pyemon standing in a crisp purple suit, smirking. Removing his leather gloves, Pyemon whistled as he casually touched various things in the study.

"Whistle, looks like you’re loaded."

Usmanov watched tensely as Pyemon casually sat on the black leather sofa.

"This time, you did well, very satisfactory."

Usmanov sighed in relief but kept tense.

"Th-thank you…"

Pyemon, leaning comfortably on the armrest of the sofa, spoke.

"There’s one more thing you need to do?"

Usmanov half-rose and asked.

"What… what is it?"

Pyemon waved his hand gently in the air as if drawing a picture, and an illusion appeared before Usmanov.

In it, Kay was seen singing and playing the guitar, Kevin sweating as he played the bass guitar, and Shizuka happily playing the piano with her eyes closed. The illusion ended with Arthur madly drumming on a huge drum set, the location of the performance unclear due to the absence of an audience.

Snap.

With a flick of his fingers, Pyemon made the illusion disappear. Staring blankly into space, Usmanov turned to Pyemon who was smiling refreshingly.

"See? Make sure the clockmaker doesn’t miss his lessons at the academy."

"Yes… Yes!! Ah, understood."

"Good, how's the gold collection going?"

"Uh, yes!"

"Keep up the good work, I might even say a word to the torture technician in hell for you."

"Th-thank you!"

"Ha-ha, lots to be thankful for."

Pyemon’s figure then flickered out. A trail of black smoke rose from the sofa as Usmanov stared blankly, then he quickly got up and removed a painting from behind his desk to access a safe.

As

he flung open the door, the sight of gold bars filled the safe, and Usmanov looked somewhat relieved.

As he calmed himself looking at the safe, he was startled by the sound of the door opening and shouted.

"Wh-what now!?"

Behind the door, the startled butler peeked out holding a phone.

"Ah… I've connected you to Prosecutor General Peter Henderson…"

Wiping sweat from his brow, Usmanov reddened and said.

"Give me the phone and leave."

After handing over the phone, the butler left the study and closed the door behind him, sighing.

"Things are getting weirder… I should consult with his doctor."

>

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