Chapter 52: For Now, Let’s Start with Chinese Food!
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The day of the international conference.
Kazuma, along with Ema, had arrived in China, where the conference was to be held.
It was his second trip abroad, following America, and Kazuma was slightly excited.
“Whoa… America had big buildings and all, but China’s no slouch either.”
“It’s an economic superpower on par with America now. The capital is apparently even more amazing, but it seems to be half-destroyed due to the Ibinom.”
“That’s a shame. Well, maybe some other time.”
Though he said “some other time,” Kazuma had no plans to visit China on his own.
After all, he had no reason to come.
If Kazuma were to come to China, it would only be for a family trip or work.
“Well, what should we do now? We have time until the conference. Shall we do some sightseeing?”
At Ema’s suggestion, Kazuma folded his arms and hummed, pondering.
“Hmm… Are there any recommended spots or anything?”
“There aren’t any historical buildings, you know~. That said, it’s bigger than the First Area, so just looking around should be interesting.”
“Well then, maybe I’ll just laze around at the hotel for a while~”
“In that case, how about going to eat some Chinese food? The main street is bustling with tourists and has many food stalls.”
Just as Kazuma, feeling it was too much trouble, was about to say he’d wait at the hotel, Ema’s secretary, Tsukimi-san, spoke up.
Hearing her words, Kazuma became interested in the food stalls and decided to take this opportunity to enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine.
“Guess I’ll do that~. What time is the conference again?”
“It’s from ten o’clock. There’ll be a lunch break, so don’t eat too much.”
“Okay~”
Kazuma parted ways with Ema and the others, heading into the city with Momoko and Sakura Hakanai as his companions.
Once the three were out of sight, Ema murmured worriedly.
“Will they be alright…”
“Who do you mean, sir? Us? Or them?”
“Both. I did receive a Talisman from him, but I wonder how effective it really is…”
“I believe he said there would be no problem even if a missile came flying at us…”
“If it’s his ability, I can believe it… but I’m anxious.”
“If anything, I’m more worried about whether they will cause any problems.”
“That’s also a concern~… I think Shinonome-kun will be fine, but the other two are problem children. The Crimson Knight and the Vixen. I just hope nothing happens…”
The two of them stared worriedly in the direction the three had gone.
They prayed that, if possible, no problems would arise.
Their worries were not unfounded; Kazuma and his group were being accosted by the Chinese mafia.
“Yo, bro. You’ve got some fine women with you, huh? How ’bout lending them to us for a bit?”
“Sure. This one here is off-limits, but I’ll lend you that woman over there.”
“Huh?”
Momoko and Sakura Hakanai were a beautiful girl and a stunning woman, respectively.
Their eye-catching appearances had made them targets.
And with them was Kazuma, who, despite his good looks and physique, exuded no intimidating aura.
The Chinese mafia members judged him to be some rich kid and approached the three to threaten them, but they were dumbfounded when he, far from resisting, readily offered up Sakura Hakanai.
“Eh, ah, well, are you sure? Aren’t you supposed to resist or something?”
“Nah, I’d like to settle this peacefully. But could you please spare this girl here?”
The Chinese mafia members looked Momoko, whom Kazuma was protecting, up and down as if appraising her.
Then, they shifted their gaze to Sakura Hakanai, compared the two, and decided that she alone would be sufficient.
“Heh heh heh… You’re an understanding brat, ain’t ya? Alright then, we’ll be borrowing her~”
“Please, take your time~”
With an amicable transaction, they parted with smiles on both sides.
One of the Chinese mafia members lewdly put his arm around Sakura Hakanai’s waist, and they disappeared into a side street.
The remaining Kazuma and Momoko turned on their heels and began to look at the food stalls on the main street.
“Poor thing… They probably never dreamed they were taking a bomb home with them.”
“Well, she won’t die. She’ll probably be back here soon.”
As Kazuma and Momoko wandered among the food stalls, they glanced in the direction Sakura Hakanai had disappeared. Just then, they heard multiple angry shouts, followed by the sound of gunfire.
After a short while, the commotion subsided, and Sakura Hakanai, with a cool expression, walked out from the side street towards Kazuma and the others.
“Did you kill them?”
“Who knows? They suddenly started fighting amongst themselves, saying, ‘She’s mine!'”
“That’s a terrifying Gift. You used Brainwashing, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I felt my life was in danger.”
One of the orders Kazuma had given Sakura Hakanai was that she could use Brainwashing if she felt her life was in danger.
She couldn’t use it if Kazuma was nearby, but this time she had been taken away to a deserted back alley, so her Brainwashing was permitted.
Sakura Hakanai had Brainwashed the men, causing infighting that escalated into a murderous brawl.
As a result, a few members of the Chinese mafia in the city lost their lives.
Moreover, it was rumored that they had fought over a single woman, and Kazuma and his group were merely sympathized with as victims.
“Don’t do anything too flashy~”
“Something like this is no problem. It’s a fairly common occurrence around here.”
“Is that so? Then I guess it’s fine.”
“It’s not fine! We’ll definitely be marked.”
“I wish they wouldn’t fight over me~”
“The nerve of you to say that…”
“More importantly, I’m hungry, so I want to eat something, anything.”
And so, despite Sakura Hakanai having indirectly killed multiple people, Kazuma and Momoko weren’t particularly bothered.
Rather, they resumed their tour of the food stalls because they were hungry.
“By the way, what should we do about the guy who’s been staring at us for a while now?”
“Eh? We’re being watched?”
“Yeah. Their gazes are focused on me, not you two. I wonder if my identity has been exposed?”
“Will you intercept them?”
“Nope~. As long as they don’t make a move, ignore them, ignore them~. I’m just like an ordinary person sightseeing right now.”
“How can an ordinary person like you even exist…”
Momoko’s shoulders slumped in exasperation at Kazuma’s “ordinary person” remark, while Sakura Hakanai giggled.
The ones staring at the three of them were the Chinese Federation’s intelligence unit.
They had learned that Kazuma was coming to China and had immediately begun surveillance.
After all, China had identified Kazuma as the Crimson Knight and was handling him with caution.
It was only natural to be cautious, as if Kazuma, a super-class bomb, were to go on a rampage, it was questionable whether even the Overlord could stop him.
The incident with the Chinese mafia earlier had made their blood run cold.
They had been prepared to stop him with their own bodies if it came to it, but the unexpected turn of events had taken their breath away.
It could only be called foolish for them to self-destruct over a single woman, but the intelligence unit was relieved that they were idiots.
“Captain, what should we do? The target seems to be aware of us.”
“Indeed. He was looking at all our positions, so he must know he’s being watched. However, we can’t just leave him be. If he were to rampage, we’d be helpless.”
“True. More importantly, isn’t the woman with him Satori?”
“He’s brought another troublesome woman with him…”
“What about the other woman? She wasn’t in the files.”
“I, I know her…! That woman is more dangerous than the Crimson Knight!”
One of the intelligence agents seemed to know Sakura Hakanai and was considerably agitated.
“You know her? What kind of person is she? Explain in detail.”
“W-Well, I once investigated Japanese criminals, and among them were some particularly heinous and extremely dangerous individuals. She is one of them.”
“So, the Crimson Knight has even tamed heinous criminals… And what kind of criminal is she?”
“Her name is Yumemiya Sakura. A former cabaret girl, her Gift is Brainwashing. And she’s a madwoman who tried to overthrow a nation all by herself.”
“…………Please tell me you’re joking.”
“There’s no mistake. She matches the photo in the files. The Chinese mafia infighting earlier was surely due to her Brainwashing.”
“Did Japan come to destroy China?”
“If we mishandle this, either one of them alone could destroy China.”
“Don’t say such things, even as a joke…”
If Kazuma were to seriously oppose China, he could wipe it off the map in less than a day.
Sakura Hakanai, though not to Kazuma’s extent, could probably destroy China if she made thorough preparations.
Both were extremely heinous existences, but for now, they were neither enemies nor allies.
There would be no problem if they weren’t mishandled, but the intelligence unit recognized the two they were monitoring as terrifying individuals nonetheless.