Chapter 4
An Unprecedented Experimental Facility
MIKA LET OUT a sigh of admiration as she looked at the wads of cash laid out on the white table.
“There's 50 million. I made them get it in cash, just like you wanted. It won't be traced back to you.”
I told Mika without making eye contact.
The amount excludes all expenses incurred during the pregnancy, such as delivery and hospitalization.
“Politicians really have an abundance of money and everything at their disposal, don't they? Was it easy for you to get 50 million?”
Mika said sarcastically, dressed in a suit she was probably not used to wearing.
“Money is important, but I have plenty of it to live on. That's the world on our side.”
Mika laughed at me as I spoke in a matter-of-fact manner.
“The fact that your child’s born doesn't affect your heart in the slightest, does it?”
“Are you going to tell me that you've awakened to motherhood now?”
“No way. If I had, I wouldn't have given the child away. To me, the whole process of conceiving and giving birth to that child is work. Nothing more, nothing less.”
I was relieved to hear that.
I could see in her eyes that she was speaking the truth; it wasn’t Mika's superiority talking.
“I guess I was right in choosing you after all.”
“Well, I don't know if the job’s worth it. I almost regretted it when my belly started to grow and the morning sickness got worse. I came here to complain or something, but when I saw all this money in front of me, I didn't care anymore.”
Even for Mika, who’d been receiving a monthly salary of well over a million yen, a lump sum of 50 million is a different story. I don't want to hear her complaints. When it comes to surrogacy, etc., I paid more than twice the market rate, even if it’s estimated at a high level.
“Normally, we'd have to pay almost half of this to the government.”
“That's right... You have to earn about 100 million to save 50 million, right? I can't help but think you're crazy if you have to pay almost half of it in taxes.”
Touching the surface of the wad of cash, Mika laughed a little.
“Have you ever paid taxes properly?”
It’s said that many people in professions similar to Mika's don’t pay taxes.
“Come to think of it, I can hardly remember. Well, maybe I'll pay them when I start a new job, who knows? Anyway, how are you these days, Atsuomi? Any change?”
“I'm sorry, but I'm busy and don't want to talk too long. Let's just get on with what we have to do.”
I took out the contract and held it out in front of Mika.
“If you're going to take the money, write it down. You have the rights to the child until you sign here.”
“You fret too much. Don't worry, I only had a baby for the money. I have no regrets.”
Mika had no intention from the beginning to refuse the money offered to her, and once again expressed her willingness to accept it.
“No matter what happens, I’ll never be allowed to identify myself as the mother in my life.”
This may have sounded insistent, but it was very important.
If Mika, who’s familiar with the underworld, tries to get the child back, the possibility that the White Room’s existence will be exposed cannot be denied.
“I know. Don't talk about me to him either.”
“I won't. I don't have to.”
“Can you just tell me what's going to happen to him?”
I haven’t told Mika anything about the White Room.
It was understandable that she was concerned about what will happen to him.
“That's none of your business. Once the deal is completed, we're done.”
“Yes, yes.”
Mika signed the contract as if she understood that there was nothing more to be done.
“Is this okay?”
Judging by the handwriting’s pressure, there was no hesitation at all.
I guess she wasn’t at all worried if she was so sure.
Mika gave instructions to take the attaché case containing the money into Mika’s car trunk.
It was a bit risky to carry such a large amount of money in cash, but Mika and I agreed to avoid transferring the money through a bank.
“Well, I'll be on my way.”
This was the last time I saw Mika and the last time we spoke to each other.
As I was about to leave without saying a word, Mika took a few steps before stopping.
“...Don't you want to ask me what I'm going to do now?”
I couldn't read her expression.
However, I could make out that there was a hint of emotion in her voice.
“I'm not interested. You’re free to go to that host or fly abroad with the money.”
She was slightly surprised but then smiled as if she understood.
“You knew? You knew about me and him?”
“Even if I don't investigate, people around me will investigate on their own.”
“How long have you known?”
“Before I asked you to marry me and have a baby.”
“Aren't you suspicious if he really is your child?”
Mika narrowed her eyes as if she was playing a trick.
“It's not even worth getting suspicious about. You could’ve predicted that I would do a postnatal exam, and if by any chance you were carrying someone else's child, you'd lose your reward. It's an impossible choice.”
“Hmm, yes, indeed.”
“But you did a good job of restraining yourself. I must commend you for keeping your secret meetings with him to a minimum during our married life, and for being so careful that the host would never find out.”
I don't know if the host really wants to make Mika happy, though.
At the very least, Mika's fortune, including the 50 million, should be over 200 million.
Five or ten years—until the money runs out, she is guaranteed a happy life with her host.
“Atsuomi… Did you ever think you'd like me?”
“You'll do anything for yourself and money. That's the biggest thing I appreciate about you.”
“I think you're missing the point… No, I'm sure that's the whole answer.”
I’ve never had any special feelings for Mika.
And at the same time, this woman has no feelings for me either.
All these sympathetic words were an act to make herself look good.
She likes young, good-looking, well-spoken men who value themselves and their money above all else.
That is Mika.
“Goodbye, Atsuomi.”
“Wait. This is my present to you.”
Three million on top of the fee I'd originally prepared.
I gave the consolation money, a “parting gift,” over to Mika.
“You don't have to go that far, I'm not going to sell this to a weekly magazine. I've done a lot of black-hearted things with you, too.”
Mika has a lot of things that she doesn't want exposed.
“Of course. That's why this is a pure, open, and honest gift. You don't have to take it if you don't want it.”
I reached over and pulled the money back, but Mika stopped me with a laugh.
“There's no reason not to have the money to build your own home,” she said. “I heard that land is getting more and more expensive these days.”
“You don't know the underlying reasons why land prices are going up, do you?”
“I don't know. I don't care. I'm just interested in the money.”
“That's just like you. You know, it's gonna be a while before you can officially marry someone.”
“That's because I'm supposed to be your wife back in this country.”
Until we’ve put the child in the White Room for a while, it's necessary for us to be publicly established as husband and wife.
“Not for long. If you can wait two more years, then you can do whatever you want.”
For this purpose, I’ve already given her the divorce papers filled out, only excluding the dates for me and Mika respectively.
“One last thing, if you have a name picked out, I'll file it under that name.”
Eleven days have already passed since the birth of the child, and unless additional steps are taken, there are only three days left.
“I don't even have rights to the child, but you’re letting me decide?”
“A name is just a symbol. No matter who names the child, what’s inside of a human being is the same.”
After a short pause, Mika spoke the child's name.
“Then Kiyotaka.”
“A very good suggestion, that’s just like you.”
I was a little surprised at this unexpected turn of events.
“I just thought that this would be the name you’d remember,” she said.
“That's fine. I'll accept it.”
“You really are a very calm and level-headed person, aren't you? It’d be normal for people to lose their temper in this situation. Naming a host that I'm crazy about... That's insane.”
Mika started to walk away. This time she didn’t stop.
“Goodbye Atsuomi, my time with you has been a valuable experience for me. For better or worse.”
After Mika left, I wrote “Kiyotaka” on the list.
With that much money in her pocket, she shouldn’t have a single complaint.
I gave up my child as a representative of the White Room.
If I can make a track record, I can say that the money was a small price to pay.
As long as Kiyotaka is useful for at least 5 years, it doesn’t matter if he breaks down after that.
There’s no need for one's own child to be excellent.
“She was quite a nice lady, Ayanokouji-san.”
Tsukishiro, who was waiting in the next room, appeared with a smile as usual.
“You've had a hard time, too, haven't you? I made you play detective.”
“I'm a jack-of-all-trades, you know. But are you sure you can trust her? You might consider getting rid of her if you have to. She may stay quiet while she has money, but from the looks of her, she'll run out of it in a few years. Or, could he run away with the large sum of money?”
Yes, you never know with people.
In the future, when she loses the money, Mika may appear in front of me again.
But I hope she’s smart enough not to do so.
No matter how dirty and worthless your soul is, it’s not pleasant to die for nothing.
“It's always a good idea to make the first move, but it depends. Mika's disappearance creates other risks. We need her to be a mother for now.”
It’s clear that I’m not attached to the child due to the circumstances. If this is revealed by the person who was my wife, my credibility in the business world will be lost all at once.
“You're right. It’s as you say.”
“In a few days, the child will be in my hands after the tests are completed and he’ll begin the experiments as a fourth-generation student.”
“It seems like your son will have a tough life ahead of him, just like you.”
Those words sound like pity, but Tsukishiro has no such feelings.
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