Vol 5 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Chapter 4
Editor: Starbuck11
Ortomea Empire.
As a champion of the central part of the western continent, the capital was the seat of powerful people who controlled such a country.
Although its ambitions for conquests had been put to a halt starting with the death of Gaies, but for the commoners, it was still the same as usual.
Evening in the imperial capital. Prost.i.tutes and drunken people were walking around...
(d.a.m.n... I'm a bit late...)
Because the work in the imperial palace took more time than expected, the appointed hour had already pa.s.sed since a long time ago, thus the man immediately headed towards the red district on the northern part of the capital.
”Hey Onii-san over there... How about spending some time with me for a bit ? You can do it with 100 baht.”
”How about me ? 75 baht is okay... How about some service ?”
Ignoring the prost.i.tutes who smell the money in him, the man accelerates his steps further.
Although he didn't have to hurry since he already told the other side that there's the possibility of being late. However, the men's legs didn't stop walking fast because of his innate serious personality.
Maybe because of feeling irritated by the man’s cold att.i.tude, the women began to forcefully grab hold of his cloak.
The man intentionally frowned from the prost.i.tute vulgar fragrance mixed with the smell of sweat and tobacco.
Although comparing prost.i.tutes with normal citizens was not wrong, but for j.a.panese people who are used to bathing every day, doing such low-cla.s.s prost.i.tutes was out of mind.
To be honest, not all men are fine with any woman.
After the man forcefully shook off the woman's hand, he advances his feet without looking back. The booing voice of a woman can be heard as the man kept walking.
Due to the man forcefully shaking off the woman, she almost tripped over.
(In a way, this is because I could not use a horse... But well, I've told that person that I'm going to be late beforehand, but...)
Regrettably, despite that it could solve all of his troubles, no matter what status one had, one cannot use horse-drawn carriages or a horse in the red-light district north of the capital.
It was similar to the red-light district during Edo period, with the exception of doctors, they could not use normal transportation at the time.
(Geez... Every time I come here, I can't feel calm down...)
He did not mind the liveliness and the hustle-bustle, but that also depends on the degree of how much.
Up until now, he felt irritated by how lively it was. However, because he understands that the place was the best spot for his meetings with his colleagues, he didn't mind about it.
After all, it would be
drawing too much attention if they met at the normal places.
Before long he saw a mansion with an impressive gate that could be mistaken as something belonging to some n.o.ble.
This house, protected by a high fence and a strong gatekeeper was the home of the finest prost.i.tute in the imperial capital.
”Excuse me, dear customer. We would like to confirm your members.h.i.+p card. Or has someone introduced you to this place?”
Noticing the man, the gatekeeper greeted the man.
No matter what position one had, everyone received the same treatment, and the gatekeeper seemed to have gone through a proper education.
”Is this fine?”
The man handed over a card to the gatekeeper as usual.
This was an interaction that had already been repeated many times.
And, the gatekeeper should not have forgotten the face of the man who was a member of the same organization. Although it was not a bad thing to use a face recognition, it was never bad to emphasize on security, considering the importance of this mansion.
At least such a cautious att.i.tude was the most important since many secrets needed to be kept hidden here.
”Yes, with this you may enter. Please enjoy your time here...”
After confirming the number and names written on the surface, the guard inserts the card to the equipment placed inside the station.
After confirming the information displayed on the crystal he nodded lightly to his comrade.
Then the metal gate opened slowly inward while making a heavy noise.
”Everyone has been waiting. Saitou-sama...”
He replied to those words with a small nod and Saitou immediately entered the mansion.
The man's name was Saitou Eimei. It was the same man who was the aide of the first princess of the Ortomea Empire, and the vice commander of the Succubus Night chivalric order.
Saitou who entered the mansion was guided by the maid, and went up the stairs after pa.s.sing the hall illuminated with glittering chandeliers.
”I'm sorry for being late...”
He was on the third floor of the building. Entering one of the secluded rooms, Saitou lowered his head immediately after he saw the men sitting on the sofa.
Two men were sitting on the sofa.
There was no problem with one of them. Because Saitou visited this place to meet him.
However, after he saw an unexpected face, cold sweat ran down his spine.
”It's fine, also no need for the greetings... Now then, since we are all already gathered, shall we begin the talks ?”
Around the late twenties to mid-thirties. One might wonder if he was the same age as Saitou. Trimmed short black hair with sunburn skin. Compared to Saitou, he possessed a body physique twice larger. The man sits on the sofa showing a refres.h.i.+ng smile
smile towards Saitou.
”Carter-san... What's going on here ?”
While sitting down on the sofa, Saitou spoke to the white blonde man sitting next to him.
”Saitou-kun. It's fine...”
Being gazed with a sharp gaze, Saitou instinctively swallowed the words that were about to come out.
'Sit silently.' As if his eyes told him those words. the person was James Carter the owner of this mansion and also the leader of an information network stretching around the Empire... Saitou fell silent obeying the man who was rumored to be a former member of the United Kingdom of Great Britain’s intelligence department. <tln: wtf?=”” a=”” former=”” member=”” of=”” mi6?=””>
(What's going on here... As expected, he's here because of the invasion of the Zalda Kingdom... But, I never expected that director Kikukawa would show up...)
An unspeakable uneasiness started to appears inside Saitou's heart. As his body remembers how he had been reprimanded by him, Saitou could not calm down. However, if he was going to get banished, there was no need for this man to inform Saitou personally.
(It can't be... Exiled... No, wait...)
It was a feeling of fear greater than when he had an audience with the Emperor.
”No need to be that tense. Saitou-kun... I didn't come here to reprimand you...”
”Haa, but, then, why?”
Looking at the smiling Kikukawa, Saitou felt doubtful.
He could not just obediently believe that he had no reasons for being here.