Chapter 43: TREG
Trina sat on her bed, staring out the window with a dazed look as she repeated Klaus’s words in her head.
I was working to achieve my dream.
The streaming moonlight brightened her face and the room.
She had her arms wrapped around her legs as she pondered those words. To her, they were far from simple because she knew what Klaus’s dream was and how dangerous pursuing it could be.
If someone else told her that dream, she would probably laugh it off, but Klaus was different.
He made her believe it was possible, even if she couldn’t explain how.
As for why she was giving so much thought to a childish dream? It wasn’t because of the dream itself but because the person saying it was a complete madman.
Klaus understood people better than anyone she had ever met. If he kept moving forward like this, she was certain more and more people would gather around him. But... where was she supposed to be among them?
He had already accepted her as his knight, yet she had done nothing to repay that trust.
Even though he was already trusting her so much, she still wanted to prove herself by winning the taekwondo tournament at the university’s annual event.
A deep frown appeared on her face.
’Am I really doing this the right way?’
Before, she had done everything she could just to stay close to Klaus. Now, the only thing stopping her from standing beside him was herself.
Was she really going to let herself be lost among the people who would gather around him?
No, she couldn’t and wouldn’t; her pride wouldn’t allow it.
She knew she couldn’t throw it away after all; that was what made her her. But she could make compromises for Klaus’s dream and for hers.
A determined look appeared on her face. She tightened her arms around her legs and balled her hands into fists.
"I won’t let my pride hold me back anymore."
It was a promise to herself and to her dream.
She was going to follow Klaus’s plan of training in other combat sports while also preparing for the tournament. Instead of waiting for the latter to do the former, she was going to do both together.
Finally unburdened by her thoughts and worries, Trina lay on her bed and drifted into sleep with a faint smile on her lips.
The night passed, and a taxi stopped before the tall building with a round board that read: Terra Real Estate Group
TREG was one of the well-known real estate firms in the Golden City, and its influence spread across multiple nations, even on other continents.
Klaus stepped out of the taxi; he had donned a two-piece black suit over a white shirt with a velvet tie, and similarly to yesterday, he was wearing a black hat and face mask.
He walked into the building and reached the reception.
The young receptionist smiled at him and asked, "Hello, Sir. How may I help you?"
He pulled out a black card with the letter M and -Maker- underneath it and placed it on the desk.
"I am Leo Maker, and I have an appointment with Mr. Rodgers."
The receptionist looked at the card and engraved it into her memory before she mumbled, "Please give me a minute."
Klaus stepped away from the reception desk as she checked whether he had an appointment or not, or if Clyde Rodgers was free to meet him.
A minute later, she walked over to him and said, "Please follow me."
Klaus nodded.
They entered the elevator, and the receptionist clicked the button for the highest floor.
As this was just a regional branch, the highest power here was that of the general manager, Clyde Rodgers.
About a minute later, the elevator let out a chime as its door slid open and the two stepped outside.
Klaus followed behind the receptionist as she took him to Clyde’s office.
They halted before a wooden door, and she knocked on it.
"Enter," Clyde stated.
The receptionist pushed open the door and gestured for Klaus to enter.
He stepped into Clyde’s office, and his gaze landed on the broad man with an angular beard and black hair styled in a drop fade, wearing a high-quality lavender three-piece suit over a black shirt with his prideful black eyes staring at Klaus.
The receptionist walked over to Clyde’s side with quick steps, whispering the name Leo Maker in his ear.
Clyde nodded, and the receptionist left the room.
Clyde gestured at the chair placed before him and said, "Take a seat."
Klaus took the seat without a word, and Clyde added, "It’s good for you to finally meet me."
A chuckle escaped Klaus’s lips, and he said, "Not humble at all, huh?"
Clyde offered him a smile.
"Humble is the last thing I want to be. I have worked all my life to get to this position; why should I lower myself just to make a few people happy?"
Klaus smiled behind his mask and said, "I believe you do have the qualifications to not care about such things."
Clyde’s expression softened slightly, and he said after tapping the desk, "Anyways, let’s talk about why you are here? I am sure it’s not to buy land for a house or building, yeah?"
"Of course not," Klaus muttered as he leaned back in the chair and locked his fingers with one another in a relaxed manner. "I came to talk about something way more important."
Clyde’s eyes shone with curiosity, and he asked, "What is it?"
"First, let me ask you something." Klaus grinned behind the mask and asked, "Have you already given up on Project Dremis?"
Clyde’s expression hardened, veins throbbed at his forehead, and he muttered with narrowed eyes, his voice sharp and heavy, "Who are you?"
Klaus tilted his head and feigned confusion. "Didn’t she just tell you my name?"
Clyde glared at him with a humorless expression.
"Was it not funny?" Klaus asked.
"It wasn’t," Clyde said, already nearing the end of his calm.
Klaus met Clyde’s eyes and said, "I am someone who wants you to reach higher."