"That took me by surprise," Anastasia said with her usual foxlike smile, her voice carrying that airy Kansai lilt. "I wasn't expecting you to show up with an investment proposal."
Tanaka leaned back slightly in his chair, wearing the calm confidence of a man who had rehearsed this conversation countless times. "Well, what can I say? At heart, I'm a businessman. And I think that having a partner with sharp instincts and plenty of experience will be… mutually beneficial."
The sound of small, eager footsteps followed immediately. "Finally! Mimi is sooo hungry!" The little cat girl darted forward, tail flicking excitedly as a steaming dish was set before her. But when her eyes locked onto the strange, circular meal, she tilted her head in confusion. "Eh? What is this?"
The scent hit the air like a tide—warm bread, melted cheese, tangy tomato, and hints of herbs. Even those unfamiliar with the dish felt their stomachs stir with curiosity.
"It's called pizza," Tanaka explained, his voice steady but carrying a hint of pride. "It's a specialty from my hometown. Traditionally, you cut the circle into eight slices, then pick one up and eat it."
Before Anastasia could probe further, Rem returned, bowing politely. "My apologies for the delay. The food is ready."
The sound of small, eager footsteps followed immediately. "Finally! Mimi is sooo hungry!" The little cat girl darted forward, tail flicking excitedly as a steaming dish was set before her. But when her eyes locked onto the strange, circular meal, she tilted her head in confusion. "Eh? What is this?"
The scent hit the air like a tide—warm bread, melted cheese, tangy tomato, and hints of herbs. Even those unfamiliar with the dish felt their stomachs stir with curiosity.
"It's called pizza," Tanaka explained, his voice steady but carrying a hint of pride. "It's a specialty from my hometown. Traditionally, you cut the circle into eight slices, then pick one up and eat it."
Taking the knife, he performed the demonstration with practiced ease, slicing the pie into neat wedges. He slid a slice onto a plate and pushed it toward Mimi, gesturing for her to try.
The moment the girl took her first bite, her ears perked, her eyes lit up, and her tail shot straight as she practically bounced in place. "My lady, my lady! You have to try this!"
Two pizzas glistened with toppings—one layered with shrimp, clams, and bits of squid; the other bubbling with nothing but golden cheese in varying shades of richness.
Anastasia obliged, lifting a slice delicately and taking a small bite. Her expression didn't explode with childlike joy like Mimi's, but the subtle rise of her brows and faint curve of her lips revealed her genuine approval. "Hmm… I see. That is an interesting dish. Can't say I've had anything like it. But…" her eyes flicked toward Tanaka's plate, "why is yours different?"
"I'm not a fan of fish or seafood," Tanaka admitted, lifting his slice of pure cheese pizza. "I prefer mine with cheese. But I heard you enjoyed seafood, so I assumed this one would suit your tastes better."
Her violet eyes gleamed, sharp as ever, as though she were weighing every word. "I see… the basic rule of negotiation is to try…"
"To get on the other's good side," Tanaka finished for her, smirking. "I did my homework before coming here."
Anastasia chuckled, tapping her finger against the table. "How diligent."
"You can put almost anything on it," Tanaka continued smoothly. "That's the beauty of pizza. Meat, vegetables, chicken, more cheese. Whatever suits the person eating it."
There isn't a person alive who doesn't enjoy pizza.
Maybe not every type of pizza, but there's always one kind suited for you. And if not…
Then there's something wrong with your tongue.
A cheap dish, easy to produce, universally appealing—his tone painted it like a gold mine.
"And it only costs…" he lifted another slice, speaking as if the words were casual, but each syllable carried intent, "at most two or three copper coins to prepare one. Takes barely an hour to make enough dough for several plates."
Anastasia chuckled again, hiding her mouth behind her fur-lined scarf. "I'd take it this is the business you're offering me?"
Tanaka only gave a silent nod.
Anastasia tapped her fingers lightly against the table. "Indeed, I can see plenty of potential in this little product of yours. Easy to make, broad appeal, cheap, and addictive. A merchant's dream with no obvious downside." She leaned forward slightly, her gaze narrowing with amusement. "However, I still haven't heard what exactly you seek from me. As you explained, it doesn't require heavy investment to begin production, so forgive me if I doubt that you came here simply searching for a business partner."
Tanaka exhaled through his nose, allowing a faint, wry smile. "I mean, having someone with your expertise would be nice. But… you're right. My true aim lies elsewhere." His voice dropped a tone, steady and deliberate. "I'm currently facing a problem that requires capable combatants. What I request is the strength of your private army."
For a brief moment, Anastasia's playful expression faltered. Her fingers paused before she resumed tapping on the table. "I see…" Her tone cooled, curiosity threading through it. "I can't help but ask then—what problem of yours could possibly justify moving my mercenary group?"
Tanaka met her gaze without flinching. "Taking down the White Whale… and subduing an impending Witch Cult attack."
The air in the room seemed to tighten. Even Mimi, who had been licking cheese from her paws, froze mid-motion. Anastasia's eyes widened, a rare crack in her mask, but just as swiftly her expression settled back into composed poise. "That's… quite the problem you've dropped on my lap."
"Intercepting a Witch Cult attack may be plausible excluding the fact you haven't given me any details or how you even knew about. But the White Whale? My mercenaries alone aren't nearly enough to hunt down a calamity that's terrorized this world for four centuries."
Tanaka folded his arms, his gaze unwavering. "Another member of our camp is negotiating with Crusch Karsten as we speak. If we succeed in securing her forces, then adding yours would all but guarantee victory."
Her laugh was light, but edged. "You make it sound far simpler than it is. The White Whale is a legend drenched in blood. It has swallowed kingdoms and armies whole. Unless you have the Sword Saint herself at your side, it's not going to—"
"The situation has changed." Tanaka's interruption was sharp but not raised, "We've acquired information that shifts the board entirely. I know the exact time and place of its appearance. I know its abilities. I know its weaknesses—and the methods to counter them."
He leaned back slightly, voice steady but weighted with gravity. "That being said, I'm not claiming it will be easy."
Anastasia tilted her head, her green eyes gleaming with sly amusement. "The maids who followed Rem into the kitchen witnessed every ingredient she used and every step she took. Tell me, Tanaka-Kun, what exactly would stop me from taking the recipe and enjoying the profits without risking my mercenary troops?"
At her words, Rem's expression hardened, her blue eyes narrowing. She opened her mouth to protest, but Tanaka raised a hand slightly, signaling her to stay calm. His composure was unshaken.
"Nothing," Tanaka said simply, almost casually. "You could do exactly that."
He let the silence linger for a moment, then leaned forward, his eyes sharpening. "But would that be the correct choice?"
"What do you mean by that?"
She was right to ask that question, if she steals the recipe, that would be the safest route for her, she wont have to risk her army or anything, why wouldn't that be the correct choice?
"You knowing the recipe only makes you a competitor at best," Tanaka replied smoothly. "And the product you put out would be a mere imitation—a cheap copy, at least at first. I already know the process inside and out. I know how to refine it, how to get every point done efficiently and at the lowest cost possible."
He gestured slightly with his hand, as if dismissing the notion itself. "If you go that route, your only advantage is funding. And that won't be enough to keep up with me, because what I've shown you is merely the tip of the iceberg."
He paused, letting his words settle, then added with quiet conviction, "And by stealing this idea, you'd lose me as a partner forever. If you think this little project is all I have in mind, you're gravely mistaken."
Tanaka's voice deepened, his tone turning into something almost magnetic. "You know business. You know how to run one, how to squeeze the best out of it—better than I ever could. But you must know this: the heart of every empire isn't management. It's the idea. And I have thousands of them. Ideas that can change the world. I'm going to create things this world has never even imagined."
He studied her carefully, the reflection of his own ambition burning in his eyes. He knew what kind of person Anastasia was. In a way, she was like him.
Greedy.
That's exactly why she was the ideal partner.
"I'm going to become the next Alec Hoshin."
The declaration hung in the air.
From the information Tanaka gathered about this world, Alec Hoshin was the equivalent of Steve Jobs, except far more influential and a person who brought entire cultures to this world. That being said, he didn't bring everything and he was transmigrator like him, a person who was displaced into this world, so why wouldn't he do the same?
Arrogant? Absolutely. But he said it with the confidence of someone who believed it to his core.
"No… I misspoke," Tanaka corrected himself, his lips curling into a daring smile. "We will become the next Alec Hoshin. No—we'll surpass him."
For the first time, Anastasia's eyes widened ever so slightly, her carefully composed façade cracking under the weight of his audacity.
His father had been both an inventor and an entrepreneur. Tanaka had only inherited the former—the joy of creating, of building. The latter, he had never learned. His father had left before Tanaka could observe, before he could absorb that other half of the craft.
But even without it, he had something just as powerful.
Confidence.
He gestured toward the table, toward the steaming plates. "This—pizza—it's good. But it's just one of hundreds, no, thousands of ideas I carry with me."
Magic? Relationships? He was terrible at them. But this—innovation, creation, invention—this was his domain.
"I'm not just talking about food," Tanaka continued, his eyes gleaming with conviction. "I'm talking about inventions. About things this world hasn't even begun to dream of."
His words landed heavy, the atmosphere between them charged with possibility and greed.
"So," Tanaka leaned forward slightly, his smirk returning, "what do you say? Wanna be my partner?"
Anastasia tilted her head, her scarf brushing against her cheek as her green eyes narrowed with intrigue. A merchant's smile curved across her lips—pleasant, yet unreadable.
"But I have to ask," she said lightly, clutching both hands, "what is your ambition out of all this? What exactly drives you?"
Tanaka blinked once, then exhaled slowly, the confidence in his tone softening into something more personal. "I enjoy making things—things that can change people's lives."
It was the simplest truth he could offer. He hadn't yet invented anything truly his own in this world. Not yet. Everything he carried came from knowledge borrowed, remembered, owed. But that was exactly why he had to bring it here—why he had to build.
"And as for my ambition…" His eyes sharpened, voice firm as though he were declaring fact rather than possibility. "If I can manage it, one day—I'd like to go to the moon."
The words settled in the room, so casual yet so absurd that even Rem blinked in surprise. Anastasia chuckled, raising her scarf to her lips again. "How interesting. I would assume that's an expression—a poetic way of describing the reach of your ambition."
"Ah, no." Tanaka leaned back with complete composure, his gaze unwavering. "I meant it literally."
For the first time, Anastasia's smile faltered into a pause—her instincts clashing with the impossibility of the statement. Yet his eyes didn't waver, not even a flicker of hesitation.
Her lips curled into a fox-like grin, the kind that masked both amusement and calculation. "Well then," she said softly, "I'll be looking forward to working with you, Kazuki Tanaka."
The name lingered in the air like a contract already sealed.
She spoke again, tone carrying a sly warmth. "Sorry for testing you. I knew you approached me with solid standards from the beginning, and honestly, this partnership—even just for this product—would have been a fine deal. But a good negotiator must always see how far she can stretch the scales."
Tanaka let out a small breath through his nose, half a laugh, half a sigh. "I figured as much, so no worries. Honestly, I'm glad you didn't hustle me harder, given how urgent my request was."
"Hustle?" Anastasia echoed, arching a brow.
"It's an expression," Tanaka explained, waving his hand lazily. "Basically, when someone tries to squeeze extra money out of another person. Similar to negotiation, but with a bit more… bite."
"I see…" Her smile returned, sharp yet charming. "Well, since we are to become partners, it's in both our best interests to maintain a good relationship."
She could have driven the price higher, of course. She knew it, and so did he. But the numbers hardly mattered. What she would earn from this partnership—what they could build together—would far surpass a simple coin exchange.
Tanaka sat back, letting out a breath that felt like both relief and resolve. This—this was what he had been aiming for back on Earth. To bring change. To innovate. But in a world already advanced, already saturated, there was little left to reach for.
Here, however… everything was untouched. Everything was possible.
And he would bring it all.