Chapter 120: Ivan is an Honest Person (Patreon)

"Mayor Ivan, I hope you can look after Sherry for me."

"To be honest, I'm worried about her safety."

As she spoke, Annette took a photograph from the inner pocket of her lab coat.

Seeing Ivan accept it, a smile appeared on her face.

This was something worth discussing.

Worried that Ivan might have reservations, she continued.

"Mayor Ivan, Sherry is very obedient. Trust me, she won't cause you any trouble."

"Our conversation stays completely confidential. I'm not carrying any recording device."

"If you're not at ease, you're welcome to check."

Annette had assumed that, having said as much, a young man like Ivan would feel too awkward to actually search her.

So the offer would come across as sincere, while also raising his affection for her somewhat.

But it seemed she'd forgotten about one person.

Ivan tucked the photo away. In it, Sherry stood beneath a Christmas tree, happily hugging a gift box.

The photo looked like it had been taken during Christmas of '97.

Perhaps because it was a rare occasion with both parents together for the holiday, the little girl's smile was especially bright.

On her end, seeing him put the photo away, Annette finally let her guard down completely.

She was about to bring up the matter of compensation, as well as the Raccoon City Police Department's planned operation against the mother nest.

But just then, he suddenly waved toward Makima, who was sitting on a rock.

Makima, quietly playing the role of an obedient "good girl," saw her master beckon her over.

She stepped down from the rock, and with a rhythmic clicking of footsteps, walked to Ivan's side.

"Makima, help check whether Ms. Annette is carrying any prohibited items."

"Understood, Master."

In front of outsiders, Makima set aside the playful liveliness she showed around Ivan.

Every word she spoke carried a cool, businesslike gravity.

She looked at Annette and said in a formal tone,

"Ms. Annette, please cooperate."

Watching the two of them play off each other so smoothly, Annette had no room to argue.

She couldn't help but marvel — Ivan really was a born political animal.

Young as he was, he already handled things with remarkable maturity.

Ivan turned his back, found a spot to stand, and waited quietly for Makima's results.

Annette cooperated fully throughout, and the check was soon finished.

"Master, just as Ms. Annette said, she isn't carrying any prohibited items on her."

Hearing this, Ivan turned to her.

"Good work."

Makima brushed aside the strands of hair that had fallen over her forehead, blocking her view.

After giving her head a small shake, she left Ivan's side and returned to the rock she'd been sitting on.

Annette, having just finished putting her coat back on, spoke calmly as she saw Ivan turn back around.

"Mayor Ivan, the payment for watching over Sherry will be transferred to your account tomorrow."

"The total amount will be around thirty million dollars."

Wait — thirty... hold on, how much?

Ivan had at first assumed she meant 300w, but once he made out the actual figure, he looked up at her.

Annette, thinking the sum might seem insufficient, spoke with some awkwardness.

"It's a bit less than I'd like, but I'm afraid this is the most sincerity we can afford, Mayor Ivan."

At that, Ivan didn't quite know what to say.

Thirty million dollars in 1998 was no small sum — even by the standards of the future he'd traveled from, it would still be a significant amount.

Yet from the look of things, Annette seemed to think he found it lacking.

"No, Ms. Annette, you've misunderstood."

Business was business, and Ivan wasn't the type to demand more than his due.

He'd also caught on by now — a sum this large suggested that William and his wife were in a rather dire situation.

"An amount this large... doesn't it exceed what the task actually calls for?"

Hearing this, Annette let out a breath of relief. Just as she'd thought — Ivan was an honest man.

There was no way he'd behave as shamelessly as Brian had in a matter like this.

And judging by his expression, it was clear he'd already guessed something.

Annette, who hadn't really intended to hide it anyway, laid everything out plainly.

"To be honest, a large part of that thirty million is meant to ask you, Mayor Ivan, to look after Sherry going forward, however you're able."

"My husband and I are constantly buried in work — we rarely have time to spend with her."

"I'd always told myself that once this research was finished, I'd finally make up for the years I've failed her as a mother."

"Ugh," Annette let out a heavy sigh.

"Who would have thought things would spiral so fast — before I knew it, we can barely protect ourselves anymore..."

"Looking across all of Raccoon City, you're the only person I believe I can trust, Mayor Ivan. That's why I want to entrust my daughter to you."

"So that if something happens to us, Sherry will still have some kind of safety net."

"Sherry is innocent, Mayor Ivan. She knows nothing about our research. I hope you won't hold anything against her."

Ivan, who already knew how things played out in the original story, understood Sherry's situation well enough.

He nodded and agreed to Annette's request.

"I understand. Don't worry. If it really comes to that, I promise you — Sherry will never want for food or shelter for the rest of her life."

Relieved of a great worry, Annette's face broke into a genuine smile, the first in a long while.

"With those words from you, I can finally rest easy."

"Mayor Ivan, there's one more thing I came here today to ask of you."

"What is it? Go ahead and speak freely."

Ivan sensed keenly that the real matter was about to surface.

"The Raccoon City Police Department's upcoming operation against the mother nest — that was your idea, wasn't it, Mayor Ivan?"

Annette added,

"A while back, Brian mentioned it on the phone. We had a feeling it was your doing."

Ivan nodded slightly.

"That's right. It was indeed my idea."

Seeing him admit it so readily, Annette went on.

"Your intentions are good, Mayor Ivan. I understand that."

"But have you considered..."

Noticing Ivan's expression remain unchanged, Annette continued.

"Once this operation actually goes forward, the risks involved — and the maneuvering between the various powers at play — are far beyond anything the Raccoon City Police Department can control."

"Just consider the mother nest alone — its test subjects number in the tens of thousands, and its security has only grown stronger since the Arklay Mountains incident."

"Given the Raccoon City Police Department's current strength, there is absolutely no way they could carry out this mission flawlessly."

"It might even push the situation toward something irreversible. Everything you've worked so hard to build could be destroyed in an instant."

"I don't believe that's an outcome you'd want to see."

Having said her piece, Annette studied Ivan, whose expression had turned serious.

It looked like her words had gotten through to him.

That only satisfied Annette further — the guardian she'd chosen for her daughter seemed more and more suitable the longer she looked at him.