Inside the hospital lobby, Renjiro stood by the reception desk.
He tapped his foot against the polished floor, looking at the receptionist. "Excuse me, when will we get the discharge papers?"
The receptionist offered a polite smile. "Sir, please wait just a few more minutes. We are finalizing the documents."
Renjiro nodded, stepping back to pace back and forth.
A short while later, the receptionist called him over. "Here are the discharge papers, sir."
Renjiro took the file. Nearby, several personal bodyguards were packing away Kael and Sara's belongings into travel bags.
Moments later, Kael and Sara walked out, supported carefully by a doctor and a nurse. Though their injuries had been severe, both possessed unnatural recovery rates, healing far faster than normal human patients. The guards helped them into the back of a luxury car parked outside.
Renjiro signed the final forms and turned to leave, but a doctor called out after him. "Sir?"
Renjiro paused, looking back. "Yes? Is there a problem?"
The doctor hesitated. "I have a question, if you don't mind. If Kael Sir was hospitalized here the entire time... who was the person attending all those high-profile corporate meetings over the last few days?"
Renjiro froze slightly. He could not reveal the truth. Rexon, an advanced android designed to manage the company in Kael's place, was a strictly guarded secret. Leaking its existence would ruin the company's credibility and public trust.
Renjiro kept his tone casual. "While Kael was recovering, we hired a personal double to handle public appearances. Keep that between us."
The doctor looked confused. "But... a lot of staff members were talking about—"
Before the doctor could finish, the hospital owner walked into the hall. "What's going on here? Why are you holding up the guests?" The owner then turned to Renjiro with a polite bow. "Ah, you must be the friend of Adrian Redgrave's son."
"Yes," Renjiro replied briefly.
Not wanting to answer any further questions, he turned around and walked out to the car. He climbed into the driver's seat. In the back, Kael and Sara sat side by side.
As the car pulled away from the hospital, Sara leaned her head against the cool windowpane, staring out at the passing city buildings. A soft murmur escaped her lips.
"Kael... will you ever leave me behind like everyone else did?"
Kael turned his head toward her. "Did you say something?"
Sara looked back at him, forcing a small, reassuring smile. "Nothing. Just thinking."
She quietly clenched her hands in her lap, turning her eyes back to the window as silence settled between them.
A short drive later, the car pulled up to the main estate.
When they walked through the entrance, two familiar figures were waiting in the main hall: Uncle Vrenz and Uncle Warner. Both elder men were close family associates who were already fully aware of the secret arrangement between Kael and his android double, Rexon.
Uncle Vrenz stepped forward, giving Kael a warm, approving pat on the shoulder. "Welcome back, Kael. Rexon kept us updated on everything regarding the estate and company."
"Thank you, Uncle Vrenz," Kael replied, greeting both elders respectfully.
Uncle Warner, who had a much more relaxed personality, stepped closer to Kael. He gave him a friendly nudge with his elbow, leaning in to whisper playfully, "So... is she your girlfriend?"
Sara, standing right beside Kael, overheard the whisper clearly. Her ears flushed a slight red, but her voice was surprisingly firm—even if a faint tremor gave her away.
"Yes..." she said quickly.
Kael blinked, completely caught off guard by her sudden answer.
Before the conversation could go any further, Uncle Vrenz gestured toward the dining area, and Uncle Warner headed into the kitchen to check on dinner preparations.
Kael walked over to the living room sofa and sat down. Sara sat right beside him.
He turned to her, keeping his voice low. "Why did you say that back there?"
Sara kept her eyes fixed ahead, her tone completely serious. "If I didn't agree, Uncle Warner would have kept teasing you and holding you up in conversation for the next two hours."
Kael paused, considering her logic. "Fair point. You're probably right."
Sara leaned over slightly, resting her head against Kael's shoulder.
Watching from across the room, Renjiro tossed a small decorative cushion onto the couch right between them. Sara instantly snapped her head up, glaring at him with a sharp look. Renjiro casually looked away, tossing his hands in his pockets as if he had done nothing wrong.
Kael looked between the two of them, completely oblivious. "What's going on with you guys?"
Renjiro smirked quietly to himself.
Unbelievable... Who would ever guess that one of the most powerful beings in existence is completely clueless when it comes to this?
Later that evening, everyone gathered around the long dining table. Uncle Vrenz, Uncle Warner, Renjiro, Rexon, Sara, and Kael sat together for dinner.
The atmosphere was pleasant as warm dishes were served. Sara took a bite of her meal, a bright, satisfied smile instantly appearing on her face. Kael glanced at her from the side, a subtle warmth touching his chest. He took a slow breath to focus himself and returned to his plate.
Uncle Vrenz noticed that Kael was eating lightly and decided to shift the focus to business. He turned toward Rexon and Kael. "Rexon mentioned earlier that you were looking into expanding our consumer hardware division."
Rexon swallowed his food and set his utensils down neatly. "Yes, Uncle Vrenz. We are evaluating several new product lines to strengthen our foothold in the daily tech market."
Kael set his glass down and crossed his arms, his posture becoming focused and professional. "We are aiming for a high-margin product with a simple core concept, but supported by strong engineering."
Uncle Vrenz raised an eyebrow. "What kind of product?"
"An AI-integrated smart toothbrush," Kael stated calmly.
Uncle Warner paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. "An electric toothbrush? Isn't that market already saturated?"
"Standard electric toothbrushes are, yes," Kael explained clearly. "Our initial model won't rely on gimmicks. We will focus on a premium, minimalist design with three core hardware integrations: real-time plaque and dirt optical detection, an automated oral freshener dispenser, and a built-in chamber for high-efficiency toothpaste cartridge refills."
Uncle Vrenz listened intently, nodding slowly in approval. "Optical detection in a compact form factor requires high micro-sensor density. But if executed cleanly, the recurring revenue from specialized refill cartridges alone would secure strong long-term cash flow."
"Precisely," Kael said. "We build the brand prestige with the initial release, then introduce software-driven health tracking in the second generation."
"A solid strategy," Uncle Vrenz acknowledged, pleased with Kael's sharp business sense despite his recent recovery. "We will review the preliminary budget proposal with the board tomorrow."