As Asano Fūsei locked eyes with Shirakawa Sawahei, the first thing he said had Sawahei breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Kid, did you really come empty-handed?"
The tone was exactly like that of a disappointed father-in-law criticizing his son-in-law. Sawahei replied helplessly, "...Hayakawa said I didn’t need to bring anything."
"Oh... and what about Miss Kaori? Didn’t she invite you? How come she’s not here to show you around?"
"Hayakawa hasn’t appeared yet. Asano’s already gone to find her..."
"This kid, she’s making you look bad..." Asano chuckled, "So, are you enjoying yourself?"
"It’s oka...okay, I guess." Sawahei hesitated for a moment and asked tentatively, "I have a question... Does my name sound off-putting?"
"Just now, not fewer than five people came up to me; upon hearing my name, they all ran off." He said, a bit exasperated, "Is that how rich kids greet people?"
"Oh~ those guys, their attitude towards you..." Asano paused suddenly, teasingly saying, "Brother Shirakawa, don’t you want to ask for yourself?"
Sawahei blinked in confusion, "Ask who?"
"Pick any one of them, see which lucky guy has the honor."
"Ah, Master Slatter’s here; I gotta go. Enjoy yourself~"
Even though Asano’s figure disappeared, his words left Sawahei lost in thought. He looked up, scanning the surroundings as if seriously contemplating choosing some unlucky... oh sorry, lucky one to answer his question.
As he glanced around, the people who had previously approached him couldn’t help but shiver slightly, lowering their heads in silence.
For some reason, Sawahei suddenly felt like it was just like a teacher calling roll in class.
Fixing his gaze, Sawahei slowly walked toward Shinden Gong Shilang, the suave young man who was the first to strike up a conversation earlier. As he steadily approached, Shinden’s buddies scattered like birds and beasts, leaving him alone with his head down, avoiding eye contact.
When he realized all his comrades had deserted him, the Great Demon King was already too close for him to escape. Seeing the situation was dire, he hastily tried to strike up a conversation with a nearby girl, attempting to shoo Sawahei away with this tactic.
But unfortunately, things didn’t go his way as all the girls around were well-protected by their partners. Forcefully jumping in would likely get him challenged to a duel with a thrown glove.
Oh, right, this is Neon, not Europe, so no worries.
"Mr. Shinden, what a coincidence meeting you again."
"Mr. Shirakawa... su...such a coincidence..." Shinden eked out a pained smile, "Do you need anything... if it’s not urgent, I just happened to..."
"Of course, something’s up." Sawahei cut off Shinden’s retreat outright, hesitated a bit but decided to ask indirectly, "Does Mr. Shinden know me?"
"Haha... haha... didn’t we just meet..."
Shinden forced an awkward laugh, inwardly grumbling.
Sawahei, that seasoned Evil Dragon Knight, the bold one who dared to diss Hayakawa Kashi to her face—who doesn’t know him.
"Seems like you have a lot to say about me, Mr. Shinden?"
"Not at all! How could it be!" Shinden blurted out, "I’ve absolutely got no issues with you, Mr. Shirakawa."
Seeing that Shinden was absolutely unyielding, Sawahei couldn’t help but frown slightly and switched tactics, "Is your attitude due to Hayakawa?"
"Hahaha... Mr. Shirakawa you’re really hilarious, did we even mention Sister Hayakawa just now? I don’t think so? You can’t wrong me..."
"...To be honest, I’m not close with Hayakawa Kashi; we even have a little rift."
"That’s why Asano, her sister, brought me in; you ought to know they don’t get along, right?"
Fishing Master Sawahei coaxed, "I wonder what your stance is, Mr. Shinden?"
"Hahaha... Mr. Shirakawa, you’re really funny... I only have admiration for Sister Hayakawa, absolutely no other opinion."
Shinden continued with strained laughter, unwilling to fall for it no matter what.
The fish stubbornly wouldn’t bite, and even a master can’t force it, especially when there’s no bait.
The initial fishing attempt failed, but it didn’t affect him at all. Seeing it was no use, Sawahei sighed.
"Since you’ve all figured it out, I won’t mingle with you guys as just an ordinary person."
"No more pretending, I’ll come clean, I’m with Miss Kaori."
Mr. Shinden immediately wore the ’I knew it’ expression...
Advanced fishing, commence!
"All those who came up just now, I’ve noted all their names and appearances... If this list were to reach Miss Kaori, I’m sure she’d appreciate your concern..."
Mr. Shinden’s hand started to tremble slightly, shaking even the glass of champagne in his hand.
"I didn’t... Mr. Shirakawa, you can’t, at least you shouldn’t..."
"Still, luckily I hit it off with you, Mr. Shinden, since you were the first to approach, we seem to have a good connection... if you agree to testify, maybe a name or two could vanish from the list."
Faced with Shirakawa’s blatant threat, Shinden recalled their childhood under Hayakawa Kashi’s thumb, shuddering slightly...
"I’ll confess! They put me up to it!"
"Truthfully, I’m embarrassed to be associated with them! I just never got the chance to show my sincerity to Sister Hayakawa! Now that you’re here, Mr. Shirakawa, it must be fate!"
"Yes... well, why don’t you explain how you plan to show your sincerity..."
"Brother Shirakawa..."
After confessing nobly, Shinden timidly approached with his handsome face, rubbing his hands as he probed.
"Since I was so sincere, could you maybe put in a good word for me later? Just so Sister Hayakawa knows I didn’t mean any disrespect?"
"Now tell me, how did the nickname ’Evil Dragon Knight’ come about." Sawahei’s face darkened, "Why is Hayakawa Kashi the evil dragon?"
"Weren’t you guys calling her the demon?"
"The demon is what... my incompetent friends now call Sister Hayakawa. The evil dragon is from back then... I just mentioned, didn’t I, Sister Hayakawa’s entrepreneurial history as a kid pretty much sums up as our tale of hardships and tears..."
"Using our pocket money, she often didn’t even provide benefits... doesn’t that sound like the legendary dragons known for hoarding treasures?"
The evil dragon is one thing, but why do I have to be the Dragon Knight!
Ride Hayakawa Kashi? No way, nope, not happening, goodbye.
"So, is it because you all think Miss Kaori fancies me, that you’re so afraid of me?" Sawahei mused after a moment, curious, "You guys are grown. Are you still afraid of her?"
Shinden, teary-eyed, said: "It’s not fear... just can’t bear stirring her up..."
"The last time, a buddy, for whatever reason, stood tall against her, and shortly after, she visited his elders."
"You wouldn’t know, Sister Hayakawa’s particularly good at winning over the older folks, usually whatever she says, they seriously consider."
"So, after taking a stand, that buddy was sent by Hayakawa’s suggestion to experience life at the grassroots level, to remember where they came from, so to avoid becoming a wastrel..."
"Two months later, he came back a changed man, now he avoids Sister Hayakawa altogether."
"Sometimes we ponder if that buddy had stood even firmer, would he have ended up reminiscing overseas in Africa..."
Aside from anything else, this seems exactly like something Miss Kaori would do...
Flowing forth, no tears?