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With Binchou-tan and her granddaughter settled in, Kaito began patrolling his core territory with a swagger.
"I laugh triumphantly, I laugh triumphantly..."
He sang to himself as he strolled past the rows of stalls, mentally tallying which ones hadn't paid their protection fees yet today.
Whoosh. A figure in a blue uniform materialized in front of him. The agent pressed his right fist to his chest in a respectful bow, then held out a folded note with both hands.
"Kaito-sama, this is urgent intelligence. Souei sent me to deliver it personally."
Kaito dropped the playful act, took the note, and opened it.
The Eastern Empire is mobilizing. They are expected to launch an offensive within one month.
He let the paper catch fire in his palm, watched it burn to ash, and let a cold smirk settle at the corner of his mouth. "One month? They're confident. Fine. Let's see who comes out ahead."
He glanced back at the agent. "Return to Souei. Tell him I've received it."
"Yes, Kaito-sama!" The agent bowed and vanished.
The news didn't particularly worry Kaito. He'd handed everything over to Benimaru, and if he was going to do that, he had to actually trust Benimaru to handle it. A leader who micromanages with empty orders was no leader at all, as far as Kaito was concerned.
'Now then. With Binchou-tan sorted out, where should I spend this month?'
He brightened almost immediately. "Oh, right. Academy City! And I still need to track down Aleister and collect my royalties."
[Uh... Host, weren't you the one who pirated from him in the first place?]
'What are you talking about? As long as I don't say so, who's going to prove it? I established it first. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.'
[Host, your shamelessness truly embodies my essence!]
'Are you trying to take advantage of me?!'
[I'm complimenting you!]
"..."
Kaito let the argument die and turned his mind to logistics. Go alone, or bring Rimuru and the others? After a moment's thought, he decided to go solo. He wanted to get a read on the situation first, and with war on the horizon, it was better to keep things light.
"Right. Let's move."
"Kai-chan, what did you decide?"
He spun around. Kochou Kanae was coming up the path behind him, carrying a stack of documents, with Shinobu Kocho at her side.
"Nothing. Nothing at all!"
Shinobu stepped in front of him and planted herself there, squinting up at his face with open suspicion. "Huh? That was extremely suspicious."
Under her scrutiny, Kaito's eyes slid sideways on instinct.
"Hmph. You are absolutely hiding something."
"Shinobu! That's slander! Careful, or I'll tell Ultima on you!"
"Go ahead!" Shinobu put her hands on her hips, entirely unbothered. "It's not like Sister Ultima will automatically take your side."
Kaito stared at her. "Good heavens. Blatant collusion between officials and insiders. I should really get someone to sort out the judicial system around here."
Kanae, who had been watching them with a quiet smile, said pleasantly, "I'm actually the one in charge of investigating official misconduct, Kai-chan."
"Huh???"
"Hahaha!" Shinobu looked utterly triumphant. "Didn't see that coming, did you? The person you'd send to fix things is my sister!"
Kaito's face fell into an expression of complete and total despair. "You people really do have all the right connections."
"No wonder you can run a shady operation on Commercial Street without a word of complaint."
"Don't change the subject!" Shinobu jabbed a finger at him. "Tell me. What did you decide?"
Kaito recognized when he was beaten. "Alright. You win. Here's the thing..."
As he explained, both sisters learned he was planning a trip to the real Academy City.
"I want to come!" Shinobu announced immediately.
"Don't you have a barbecue restaurant to run?"
"I conscripted Ace to cover it. I have all the time in the world now." She looked insufferably pleased with herself.
Kanae glanced at Kaito. "Just take her. She drives me to distraction when she's idle, and my work keeps getting delayed."
Kaito accepted his fate with a sigh. "Fine. But once we're there, everything goes through me. My call, every time."
"Sure!"
He nodded, satisfied. He didn't notice that behind him, Kanae was giving Shinobu a pointed, encouraging look.
Shinobu. I've handed you the opportunity. Whether you take it is up to you.
Shinobu returned a calm, steady nod. Don't worry. That bad guy is not getting away this time.
"Kanae, we'll head out then." Kaito turned back briefly. "And don't overwork yourself. That's what the staff is for."
"Because they're being paid for it. I know," Kanae said with a smile, finishing the sentence for him.
Kaito sighed quietly. He really should have thought twice before letting her take on the secretary-general role. She'd become a workaholic, which meant less time for... other things.
"Forget it. Do what you want."
Kanae walked over to him. She looked up, rose onto her tiptoes, and pressed a soft kiss to his right cheek. Then she stepped back, color rising in her face, and said quietly, "Don't sulk. Once things settle down after the conference, it'll be different. There's just a lot to deal with right now."
The warmth lingered on his cheek. The corner of Kaito's mouth curved up despite himself.
Shinobu, watching from two steps away, had gone completely red. Wow. Sister is bold. In broad daylight. Truly worthy of being my sister.
"Hehe... I want more."
Kanae lightly swatted him. "Go. Now."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Kaito snapped off a ridiculous salute, grabbed Shinobu's hand, and pulled her through the opening Dimensional Gate.
"Hey, hey, hey!!! I haven't even packed anything yet!"
The gate closed. In the quiet that followed, Kanae heard the last of Shinobu's indignant wail echo into nothing, and shook her head with a smile.