After everything had finally settled, the plan was to return to the Lungmen Guard Bureau for some recovery and then go home…
That was how it was supposed to go.
"So why exactly do I have to come along and eat a late-night meal with you all?"
Shirou stared at the large table full of dishes in front of him with a helpless expression.
After finally finishing that long, exhausting mission he was going to get a proper night's rest so why did he have to come here for a late-night meal with the Rhodes Island people?
And on top of that, he was the one leading them here.
This restaurant was just something he had found from Penguin Logistics' late-night food list. He had only just asked Sora about it earlier.
As for why he did not ask anyone else…
Obviously, because everyone else would assume he was eating alone and then ask him to bring back portions for them.
To prevent that from happening, Shirou specifically chose someone who was least likely to eat late-night food.
Recently, they had all been eating far too much. If this continued, it would not be good.
According to Yith , based on his calculations, the rate of tire wear on the vehicle had become unusually high, but recently there had not been that many heavy cargo deliveries…
Shirou still remembered how quiet the four-person group had become when Yith mentioned it.
A silence that felt almost frightening.
At that time, Yith had trailed off mid-sentence, and afterward the boss had even replaced the vehicle with a new one.
Even now, just thinking about that scene made Shirou feel a slight chill down his spine.
"Isn't it normal to have a big meal after a mission? Besides, we rushed straight to the scene as soon as we arrived in Lungmen and have not properly eaten since then!"
A certain black cat was holding a large cup of alcohol and gulping it down nonstop, making Amiya feel a bit uneasy just watching her.
Ace and Scout on the side were also getting into the mood along with Blaze, while the Blacksteel International members were slightly more restrained, at least they were not drinking so extravagantly.
As for Rosmontis…
She had already eaten her fill and fallen asleep on his lap, covered with a red coat projected by Shirou.
"You do not need to drag me into it. And be quieter, Rosmontis is sleeping."
He slightly adjusted his leg so she could sleep more comfortably, and also moved her body inward so she would not fall off.
"Do not be so formal! We are the ones treating you to this meal anyway! Free food is great, right?"
Hearing Shirou, Blaze lowered her voice slightly, though her tone was still loud and casual.
Shirou sighed internally. If possible, he really wished she could be a bit more proper.
There were children here.
Looking at Blaze, Ace, and Scout continuously refilling their drinks, Shirou narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Cough… Blaze is just like that when she drinks. Do not mind her too much."
Seeing Shirou's expression grow more serious, Amiya quickly stepped in to calm things down, worried that he might draw a weapon the next second.
And Shirou really was capable of doing that.
"I said, there are children here. Is it really appropriate for the three of you adults to keep drinking like this?"
At Amiya's cue, Shirou finally spoke up.
From his experience dealing with drinkers like this, they would inevitably end up completely drunk and unconscious.
Would he end up having to carry Amiya and Rosmontis back?
The Blacksteel members were not drinking as heavily, but they had still had a few drinks.
And with Ace's build… whether anyone could even carry him was questionable.
"This level of alcohol is not …"
Blaze raised her glass as she spoke, but her voice gradually weakened.
Huh… why did Shirou's gaze suddenly feel so sharp? What was this inexplicable sense of guilt?
Even though he was smiling, there was not even the slightest warmth in his eyes.
That instantly sobered her up.
Ace and Scout also became alert at the same time, and Franka quietly put her glass down after noticing the atmosphere.
"Impressive… just by his gaze alone, he made them stop drinking…"
Watching this scene, Liskarm looked impressed, while Amiya, Vanilla, and Jessica all nodded in agreement.
After all, they knew what these people were like.
Normally, only Doctor Kal'tsit could stop them but Shirou had done it with just a look and his presence.
For some reason, Franka whispered to Liskarm, "I suddenly feel like I got caught drinking secretly by my parents. I even lost my appetite."
On the other side, Blaze, Ace, and Scout quietly put their glasses back on the table and switched to juice instead.
The only thing they had in common now was that none of them were looking Shirou in the eye.
"I am not trying to spoil your fun or stop you from drinking, but you should consider that there are children here. Are you planning to stay here until the middle of the night? Do you intend to make Amiya and the others call someone to carry you all back?"
Shirou fired off a triple round of questioning, making the three silently push their alcohol glasses even farther away.
"So impressive…"
Watching Shirou deal with the three like this, Amiya revealed an admiring look.
Even she could not handle this situation, yet Shirou managed it with ease!
Truly amazing!
"…You are right. That is something we did not consider."
Having completely sobered up, Ace returned to his earlier big-brother demeanor.
In truth, they already knew what Shirou said, but they had gone along with the mood and kept drinking…
Now that it was pointed out so directly, he felt a bit ashamed.
"Mm-hmm."
Scout nodded in agreement.
Even Blaze, sitting to the side, straightened up, and her pair of ears drooped down.
"Think things through a bit more. Do not make Amiya worry so much. You are adults, after all."
Seeing their reactions, Shirou did not press them too harshly.
Mainly because they were not that familiar with each other. If Amiya had not stepped in to persuade them, he might have only helped carry them back to the office afterward.
These adults had embarrassed themselves to the point that a minor had to speak up for them!
"Yes, we understand."
Hearing Shirou's words, the three nodded and then finished the juice in their cups in one gulp.
"…By the way, the interrogation of those people will only have results tomorrow or the day after, right?"
After finishing his tea, Ace immediately changed the subject.
He felt that if they did not switch topics soon, Shirou might actually lecture them into giving up alcohol altogether.
While that sounded like it might be a good thing, the process would certainly be quite painful.
"Probably? Aside from the two who were seriously injured and sent to the hospital, the other three should be able to provide quite a bit of information."
Shirou was not entirely certain about this.
Although he had worked at the Guard Department, he had not been responsible for this kind of work, so he was not very familiar with the procedures.
However, since Officer Chen and the others said there would be news within these two days, then it would likely be within these two days.
"Seriously injured… Shirou, you were quite ruthless."
Hearing Shirou mention the two who were badly injured and sent to the hospital, Scout quietly complained.
One of them had fallen after Shirou kicked and broke his fingers, and the other had been severely injured from taking the brunt of the fall.
Aside from the bone dislocation that Blaze delivered at the end, most of the serious injuries were caused by Shirou.
"How was I supposed to know there would be smoke bombs? If we wanted to avoid further casualties, subduing them proactively was the right call."
Hearing Scout's complaint, Shirou tried to justify his actions.
Do not make him sound like some kind of violent extremist.
"That still does not justify using me as a point of leverage, does it?"
Ace had something to say about that.
At that moment, Shirou had used him as a pivot to kick the smoke bomb away.
Although the intention was good, this was about the only thing he could use to push back against Shirou.
"Exactly! The Guard Department assigned you to our team so that you would not have to face danger, but you still acted on your own again. I remember clearly that Officer Chen, Officer Hoshiguma, and Officer Shi said they would give you a proper scolding later!"
Blaze followed their lead and joined in criticizing Shirou.
"If Swire heard you say that, you would get beaten."
Faced with their counterattack, Shirou simply ignored it and focused on Blaze's choice of titles.
He could practically hear someone shouting, "How many times do I have to say it? My surname is not Shi!"
"It is fine. She did not hear it."
Seeing Shirou try to change the subject, Blaze was not about to let him.
They had just been enjoying teasing him along with Ace and the others, had they not?
"…Hey, do not go too far."
Seeing the three gang up on Shirou, Amiya spoke up to stop them.
She might not be able to control their drinking, but this was something she could still manage.
"Boring."
Hearing Amiya, they finally stopped.
Blaze then picked up her chopsticks and began sweeping up the remaining food on the table.
It had to be said, the restaurant Shirou chose was quite good, almost comparable to the cafeteria on Rhodes Island.
The only problem was the price… it was not exactly pleasant. Fortunately, it was covered by public funds. Otherwise, after a meal like this, they would probably have to tighten their belts for the entire next month.
After a whole night of action, there was still some fatigue, especially since Rosmontis was already sleeping very soundly.
After all, she was young and had expended a lot of stamina using Originium Arts. That was understandable.
And it was already quite late.
"By the way, did you not say you had some questions to ask? Why not take the chance to ask them now?"
Shirou, who had been checking every so often to make sure Rosmontis would not fall, suddenly remembered that Amiya had mentioned wanting to have a proper talk during the operation.
"Ah? We are not in a hurry about that. We need to prepare a few things… and it would not be very appropriate to discuss those matters at the dinner table…"
Caught off guard by Shirou's question, Amiya's rabbit ears first perked up, then after answering, slowly drooped back against the back of her head.
By the end, her voice had even become a bit unclear.
"I see. Understood."
Seeing her like this, Shirou realized she was tired and was only forcing herself to stay alert.
So he did not continue pressing and instead quietly observed everyone at the table.
The trio who wanted to drink but could not, and Franka, who had started pestering her coworkers after running out of alcohol.
Amiya, who was drowsy, and Rosmontis, who was sleeping peacefully.
It was hard to imagine that people like them had traveled such long distances to deal with matters that were not even their own.
Minmin had once said that Rhodes Island existed to improve the treatment of the Infected across this land not through violence, but by striving with more moderate means.
Treating the Infected everywhere, helping handle issues between locals and the Infected…
Though the effort seemed small, if it accumulated over time, perhaps one day it would succeed.
Just as Shirou was quietly thinking about these things, another group of customers entered the restaurant.
"…."
Looking at the newcomers, Shirou's first thought was that they seemed familiar.
Two Lupo, one "fluorescent light," one "croissant"… was that not everyone from Penguin Logistics!?
Why were they all here!?
"Well, well, well, Shirou, you are doing pretty well, huh? We have been starving in the dorms, and here you are eating and drinking nicely with a cute little cat on your lap?"
With a mischievous grin, Exusiai stepped forward and patted Shirou on the shoulder.
However, seeing the "little cat" lying on his lap, she deliberately lowered her voice.
"Exactly! Shirou, this is not okay. You should have brought us along!"
On the other side, Croissant also leaned in.
"…."
Feeling the two flanking him from behind, Shirou turned his gaze toward Sora.
As far as he knew, only Sora should have known he was here…
Which meant she had sold him out!?
"Um… I kind of let it slip."
Noticing Shirou looking at her, Sora tapped her index fingers together as she spoke.
"I was dragged out to drive."
Meanwhile, Texas looked like the words "I want to sleep" were written all over her face.
"…Sigh. Go find seats. Do not order too much, we should be heading to sleep soon."
What else could Shirou say? Since they had already come all the way here, he could not just send them all back.
As long as they themselves did not mind, it was fine. If they really wanted to eat, he could not stop them anyway.
At most, he could deal with it starting from tomorrow's lunch and dinner.
He had heard that some kind of "healthy meals" had become popular in Lungmen recently.
Meals made up of chicken breast, salad, and vegetable juice.
Maybe they should eat that for the next few days? With desserts completely banned.
In any case, compared to the people from Penguin Logistics, he was much more accepting of those kinds of foods.
The first ones who would not be able to endure it would probably be Croissant and Exusiai.
After all, one could not live without meat, and the other thought everything tasted bad without desserts.