"Yes. Apparently he’s never been wrong. Even his own brothers trust him less than I do, because I know that things like this are possible."
Blue looks out the limousine window, the light reflecting in his irises.
There is a long moment of silence, and then he speaks slowly.
"I’ve rented my private jet to my brother. Sebastian needs it. As you know, he runs the Omega Red Line Agency, and sometimes they have cases where rapid intervention is required. They use my jet to get to the scene quickly and help the victims. I would have to contact them and ask whether the jet is availableat the moment and could take me to Japan. If not tomorrow, then early on the day after tomorrow, so we can still make the meeting."
"Wait. You don’t use your own jet? You were planning to fly on a regular commercial flight?"
"Yes, I already have tickets. And no, I don’t use my jet. I don’t believe that being wealthy entitles me to burn fuel for the convenience of one person when it could carry a hundred."
I stare at him for a moment, my mouth slightly open.
"Wow. I guess I still don’t really know you… I didn’t realize you had that kind of perspective."
Blue stays silent, not looking at me, still watching the window.
So I add, "That’s how rich people operate, and it’s normal. No one questions that they have private jets and multiple homes…"
Blue makes a slight face.
"They should. All of my houses are rented out. I currently have four in active use."
He mentioned that he had rented one of them to other people one time before, but I didn't dig into the details then.
"Rented to whom?"
"Two are rented to Sebastian. Many of the victims he helps don’t have a roof over their heads. Not long ago, several omegas were rescued in cooperation with Detective Arnold. You may have heard about it on the news, the Daniel Tanner case. They were being held in a basement by that deviant who was sexually abusing them. They needed peace and care. Sebastian’s organization provided that, and one of my houses offered them a place to stay. The other two houses are rented to people who come to my experimental center. Many of them have to stay here for extended periods because the research and testing can lastweeks or even months, and they don’t have the funds to pay for hotels. So those two houses are made available as space allows."
I just stare at him.
"All of that for free?"
He nods.
Something constricts in my chest, a surge of emotion and something violent shaking through me, as if I’ve been doused in hot water.
"Why do you do that? You don’t have to. No one would blame you if you didn’t. People don’t even know about it. They only think you’re that evil scientist, a heartless rich man, the head of a huge company who doesn’t care about anyone and only wants to multiply his fortune…"
Blue shrugs slightly. "People will always think that. It’s easier to divide the world into good and bad, without any shades in between."
"So… why?"
"I don’t see anything unusual in it, Gabriel. If I’m not using something, why shouldn’t others?"
I blink like an idiot, still in disbelief. I had no idea he has this approach.
"That penthouse you live in… it’s actually pretty modest in size. Is that the only home you actively use? Because I know you’ve rented out your yacht too…"
"Yes, for now that’s the only one. I also have a house by a lake, in a forest town called Rainbow Springs. It’s more of a vacation house, but it’s currently under renovation, so it’s not usable."
I fall silent. All of this shocks me, almost shakes me. I realize how much I’ve based on assumptions and stereotypes from when I was still under Marcel’s influence.
The worst part is that even after I met him, I kept low-key thinking that Blue wasunnecessarilyrich, that yes, hesupported his patients, but still surrounded himself with excess, and meanwhile…
I need time to process this, but right now this matters more.
"I think in this situation you’re fully justified in taking the jet. Please, let’s not risk flying commercial tomorrow."
