"Sewers…"
Repeating the word, Shirou felt it made perfect sense.
Given that kind of environment, it really was an ideal place for dealing in things that could not be brought into the open.
After all, what ordinary person would go wandering into the sewers for no reason?
And any noise down there would echo clearly, making it easy to detect trouble immediately.
On top of that, it would be much harder for a large number of Lungmen Guard Department officers to surround them.
It was truly a perfect gray area though the environment itself was not exactly inviting.
"The question now is where exactly the transaction is taking place. We just need to wait for Ace and the others to find out!"
Satisfied that she had successfully shifted the topic, Blaze focused on petting the Rosmontis in her arms.
Meanwhile, Shirou turned and passed this information along to Chen.
"… "
Just after reporting in, Shirou suddenly felt something was off.
Aside from the lingering smell of gunpowder and burning, there were now additional scents mixed into the air.
That meant there were many people nearby. But if they were from the Guard Department, Chen would have informed him.
"Shirou, you felt it too, right? Someone is approaching."
Still being held by Blaze, Rosmontis spoke while looking at Shirou's slightly tense expression.
She had also sensed people moving toward them.
"…I am not entirely certain, but it is better to be cautious."
Hearing her, Shirou was a bit surprised.
He had noticed through subtle environmental changes, but Rosmontis seemed to have directly sensed their presence.
Originium Arts really were something else…
Recalling the saying he often heard from Exusiai and the others "anything can be done with Originium Arts" Shirou sighed inwardly, then drew Kanshou and Bakuya as he headed outside.
Blaze also stopped petting Rosmontis and picked up her chainsaw, looking toward him.
"I will go check it out myself. Let Amiya and the others know what is happening."
After saying that to Blaze, Shirou moved forward.
"Be careful with contact. If I am not mistaken… it should be people from the local gangs."
Hoshiguma's voice came through the communicator. Shirou had not yet turned it off after reporting earlier, so they were already aware of the situation.
Having spent quite some time in the slums, she understood that a disturbance of that scale would naturally draw attention.
"People from the slums? Because of the explosion just now?"
Unlike Hoshiguma, Shirou was not very familiar with such matters.
His impression of slum gangs was mostly negative. He had thrown quite a few troublemakers out of his shop back in the Fuyuki store.
Hoshiguma and Phal were among the few exceptions that gave him a better impression.
"Mm. Do not worry too much. You are still wearing a Guard Department coat so they will not do anything to you."
To prevent unnecessary conflict, Hoshiguma gave a brief explanation.
As long as Shirou showed his identity as a Guard Department member, there should not be any major issues.
"…Understood."
Glancing at the tattered coat that barely still resembled a Guard Department uniform, Shirou replied.
"If things really go south, just use my name or Chen's to stall for time. I am already on my way."
"Alright. I will go take a look first."
"Stay safe."
"I will."
Even after receiving this information, Shirou did not lower his guard.
Being cautious never hurt especially since he had just been caught in an explosion.
Without his Mystic Code, he might not have been seriously injured, but it would still have caused trouble for what came next.
Operating alone, Shirou had fewer concerns. He leapt onto a nearby rooftop and surveyed the surroundings.
Many houses had their lights on, clearly the explosion had woken people up.
This situation was not too bad. At least no one had rushed directly to the scene.
Or perhaps they had tried, only to be driven back by someone?
Shifting his gaze, Shirou spotted a group of people.
"That is… Miss Lin Yuhsia?"
With his sharp eyesight, Shirou could clearly make out their faces. While most were unfamiliar, he recognized one figure, a pink-haired Zalak among the crowd.
After all, she was a regular customer at his shop in Fuyuki and someone who often came by to buy things.
But why was she here?
Shirou could not help but feel puzzled.
"You know Lin…? Never mind, I will ask you properly later. If it is Lin Yuhsia, just go over and hand her the communicator. I will speak with her."
Hearing Shirou call out a familiar name, Chen was briefly confused. But given the current situation, it was not the time to dig deeper, so she quickly set that aside.
"Hand it to her? Alright."
After receiving Chen's instructions, Shirou finally relaxed a bit.
Anyone Chen treated like this was unlikely to be a problem.
Jumping down from the not-so-tall rooftop, he landed steadily and walked toward the group empty-handed.
They noticed him immediately and became highly alert.
But just as Shirou remembered this frequent customer, Lin Yuhsia also recognized him.
In her memory, he should have already finished his newbie work with the Guard Department. At most, he should now be cooperating as an instructor so why was he here?
"Chen asked me to give you this communicator."
After approaching to a reasonable distance, Shirou stopped on his own and explained his purpose.
He had a feeling that if he took even a few more steps forward, someone nearby might throw a punch.
It seemed that even a Guard Department coat was not enough to lower their guard.
Or perhaps it was because his coat was torn and dirty, making it hard to recognize?
He could not be sure. However, once he mentioned Chen, their hostility noticeably eased. It seemed her name carried weight with them.
He handed the communicator to a nearby Feline man, who then passed it to Lin Yuhsia.
"Why is the Guard Department conducting operations in the slums? And making such a huge commotion?"
The moment she took it, Lin Yuhsia spoke rather bluntly into the communicator.
As for what Chen said in response… unfortunately, Shirou could not hear it.
"I am not trying to pursue responsibility. Can you explain your presence here?"
"…A small-team assault operation? Inhibitors? I see. Then, have you caught the culprits?"
"Still searching? That explosion just now was not from a clash?"
"That was a trap? …Alright, I understand."
After a brief exchange, Lin Yuhsia personally returned the communicator to Shirou.
"Chen wants you."
"Oh… alright. Chen?"
Putting it on, Shirou listened.
"It is settled. To avoid further complications, I shared part of the information with that 'pineapple rat.'"
Even without seeing her, Shirou could feel Chen's irritation.
And… pineapple rat?
char siu cat, noodle rice dragon, pineapple rat…
Had they all just turned their favorite foods into each other's nicknames?
Suppressing the urge to comment, Shirou asked:
"So we continue the operation?"
"Yes, but before that, keep an eye on them and on the group from earlier. Do not let them act on their own."
When she mentioned preventing them from acting independently, Chen's tone noticeably hardened.
"I will do my best."
He could guarantee that Rhodes Island would not act recklessly, but Lin Yuhsia's group was another matter.
They were not close, and even Chen did not seem to have full influence over her. Shirou doubted his own words would carry more weight.
After a few brief words of encouragement, Chen ended the call and returned to her tasks.
That left Shirou standing awkwardly with Lin Yuhsia and her group.
In this uncomfortable situation, Shirou honestly wanted to go back to the Rhodes Island side, at least Rosmontis would try to keep a conversation going.
"…Lead the way. Take us to where you were resting."
Noticing his awkwardness, Lin Yuhsia spoke.
As for Chen's earlier warning not to act independently?
She treated it as something to hear but not necessarily follow. After all, Chen did not understand the situation here as well as she did.
Checking the communicator and seeing no objection from Chen, Shirou began leading them over.
"There are others over there, so I will go ahead and inform them first."
Walking in front, he gave them a heads-up.
He was a bit worried that Blaze might charge in with her chainsaw so it was better to warn them in advance.
"I understand. Shirou…I will call you that. If I remember correctly, your newbie contract with the Guard Department has already ended. Why are you still working with them?"
Hearing his explanation, Lin Yuhsia showed no impatience, simply nodding calmly before asking her question.
The people from Rhodes Island had already been mentioned by Chen earlier, so she was aware of the situation.
What she had not expected was that Shirou would get familiar with these people so quickly.
During the walk, Lin Yuhsia also took the opportunity to gather some information about Shirou.
After all, she was currently providing regular supplies to the Fuyuki Shop. As a supplier, it was only reasonable to understand where the recipients of those supplies were going, was it not?
"Mm… later on, I signed another contract to assist and instruct the Lungmen Guard Department's sniper unit. However, when the boss drafted it, he seems to have been tricked by Mr. Wei Yanwu again, adding a clause that allows them to directly call on me when necessary."
Shirou answered honestly after thinking for a moment.
Since she already knew about his newbie work with the Guard Department, she could probably find out anything else she wanted anyway.
Lin Yuhsia was also a regular customer of the shop and half an acquaintance in a sense and Shirou did not want to damage that relationship.
After all, the only one who would suffer would be the boss, and he would not even hear this conversation.
"I am aware of the contract to instruct the Guard Department's sniper team. What I did not expect is that Mr. Wei Yanwu would go so far as to use up his connection with Penguin Logistics for you…"
Hearing Shirou's answer, Lin Yuhsia began to think about Wei Yanwu's intentions.
Was it for Shirou's combat strength?
Would a single person's combat ability be worth such consideration, enough to expend ties with Penguin Logistics?
She had heard of Penguin Logistics before.
On the surface, it was a logistics company, but in reality it was capable of providing private armed forces.
Intelligence, escort, bodyguard work… delivery was only a small part of their operations. It was more accurate to describe them as a mercenary company with a powerful armed unit.
Compared to that, Shirou was just one person.
So she could not understand it.
How could the strength of one individual compare to an entire organization, especially one of Penguin Logistics' standing in Lungmen?
Or perhaps Wei Yanwu was not interested in his combat ability at all, but in his potential?
After considering it from all angles, Lin Yuhsia concluded that this was the most likely explanation.
"… "
Hearing her words, Shirou's mouth twitched slightly.
So she really did know about the contract he signed afterward. Good thing he had not said anything careless earlier, or it would have been awkward.
As for her later comment, Shirou did not pay much attention to it.
He had already been informed by Yith about the hidden exchanges between Wei Yanwu and the boss of Penguin Logistics.
Since the "sale" of him had resulted in certain benefits, he did have the right to know.
At least Penguin Logistics was relatively open about such things. In other places, he might have been exploited without even realizing it.
Soon after, Lin Yuhsia's group from the slums met up with the Rhodes Island team.
In addition to Amiya and the others Shirou had seen earlier, Liskarm and Franka from a previous cooperation were also fully equipped and standing by.
There was also a somewhat nervous Feline woman nearby, Shirou recognized her. She had looked just as tense the last time he saw her.
Meanwhile, a Vina woman holding a large axe stood calmly beside her, like an experienced veteran.
But as far as Shirou remembered… it was actually the nervous Feline who was the veteran, while the Vina woman was the newcomer.
"…You are the people from Rhodes Island?"
Lin Yuhsia stepped forward and asked while looking at the nine-person team.
She remembered Chen's tone when mentioning them, she had spoken while gritting her teeth.
"Yes, we are Rhodes Island Pharmaceutical. I am Amiya, the leader of this operation."
After receiving an OK gesture from Shirou, Amiya gave a brief introduction.
"…?"
After hearing Amiya's introduction, Lin Yuhsia's gaze slowly swept over Ace, Scout, Blaze, and the others.
Even Shirou could see it, despite her calm expression there seemed to be a lot of question marks floating in her mind.