"Yeah, I just didn't expect you to be here too, Yanagi. By the way, who are they?"
Wise looked at the group gathered around them. They appeared to be members of Yanagi's fan club.
However, he was fairly certain he had heard them shouting some very embarrassing slogans just moments ago.
"We are Miss Yanagi's Fan Club! I am the chief administrator. Are you interested in joining us and becoming a loyal supporter of Miss Yanagi?"
At that moment, the female staff member from earlier approached Wise in a friendly manner, attempting to strike up a conversation.
Seeing this, Yanagi frowned slightly.
"Everyone, what about rule number one that we agreed upon?"
"Yes! Never cause trouble for the guests!" one of the fans replied, snapping into a salute.
"But what you're doing right now would cause trouble, wouldn't it?"
After hearing Yanagi's words, the fans obediently dispersed, much to the siblings' surprise.
Soon afterward, Belle enthusiastically invited Yanagi to join them for a few rounds of VR, but Yanagi politely declined.
Before they knew it, an entire day had passed at the HIA Club. By the time Wise returned home, it was already midnight.
The next day, Wise had plans to meet up with Koleda, so he headed out and took the subway to Lumina Square.
However, near the subway station, he spotted Rina standing by the roadside with a troubled expression. A sleeping cat lay in front of her.
"What's wrong, Rina?"
Wise walked over as he spoke, and Rina turned around at that moment.
"Ah, Wise, hello. It's only a small matter. My scarf fell to the ground and was claimed by this kitten as a trophy, so I followed it all the way here~"
Rina pointed at the cat, which was clutching the scarf tightly. It seemed to have grown quite attached to it.
"Although I could forcibly take it back, doing so would go against the elegant style of Victoria Housekeeping. So I'm trying to think of a way to persuade the kitten to return the scarf willingly."
"Willingly? That might be a little difficult."
Instead of discouraging her, Wise's words only ignited Rina's fighting spirit, making her sound even more determined.
"I can do it, yes. There must be a perfect way to get the scarf back."
She folded her arms and began analyzing the situation seriously.
"Imagine it as a client with unpredictable moods, constantly changing and making difficult-to-understand demands, while also refusing to communicate. It appears to be dozing off, but it's actually secretly observing the maid's every move…"
Hearing this, Wise couldn't help but feel that being a maid was far from an easy job.
"It must be troublesome dealing with such a difficult client, right?"
"Indeed. But just like this kitten, he's guarding the ribbon very closely. I need to think carefully about why he likes it. As long as I can understand the other party's feelings and their true needs…"
Just then, another cat wandered into Cookie's territory.
Cookie immediately stood up and nudged the ribbon toward the newcomer. The second kitten sniffed it before rubbing against it enthusiastically, clearly fond of it.
"Oh, I see. Is it for its friend? That's a possibility I hadn't considered at all."
Rina smiled as she watched the scene unfold.
"Do you still want to take the scarf back?" Wise asked.
"No need~ Let them have it. I was searching for the perfect way to get the ribbon back, but now the situation has changed. Not taking it back is the most perfect outcome, so let's leave it at that."
In Rina's eyes, this was also a perfect ending.
Still, since she had originally intended to retrieve it, that scarf must have been quite precious to her, right?
"Rina, you're truly gentle."
"Hmm? Thank you very much for the compliment~ Wise, you're also a very gentle person for being willing to stay here with me. I think I understand a little better how Corin and Miss Ellen feel~"
[Ding! Target Rina has increased her favorability toward the host by 10. Her current favorability is now 70. Additionally, 500 Emotional Value has been obtained.]
[Current Emotional Value: 24100]
But then, Rina's tone suddenly changed.
"However, a person's love is limited, so one shouldn't be too greedy~ Ah, my apologies. I accidentally said something unnecessary."
Rina covered her small mouth with her hand, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Wise couldn't help but feel a little awkward. It seemed he had been misunderstood quite deeply.
Since he still had another appointment to keep, Wise could only excuse himself. After parting with Rina, he headed toward Lumina Square.
But why had their agreed meeting place become the entrance to Public Security?
"Sorry. We already had plans for today, but the construction permit for the new project was suddenly suspended for a ridiculous reason…"
Koleda lowered her head, occasionally glancing up at Wise. With her hands clasped in front of her, she looked somewhat flustered.
"It's okay. After all, you're the president, Koleda. You're bound to run into unexpected situations like this. But what's the reason for the suspension?"
Seeing that Wise wasn't blaming her, Koleda couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. To be honest, she had been worried he might think she wasn't taking their date seriously.
After talking for a while, Koleda finally revealed the reason.
The construction had allegedly disturbed the peaceful lives of stray cats, causing them to lose weight.
Although Koleda sympathized with the cats to some extent, all they had lost was a little fat. What the workers stood to lose, however, was the project bonus they depended on for their livelihood.
And to halt construction for such a reason, Koleda even suspected that stray cats had infiltrated Public Security's upper management.
Then again, maybe there really were cats being kept in the Public Security offices. In any case, compared to such an absurd explanation, it seemed far more likely to be an act of business sabotage.
With that thought, Koleda strode into the service hall with determined steps.
She emerged a short while later, looking noticeably more relaxed. Then she explained the situation to Wise with a satisfied expression.
"I cleared everything up with them. I knew it! Public Security is reasonable. Why would they make things difficult for a law-abiding, tax-paying company? A major problem has been solved... Come on, let's go get something to eat and relax."
Koleda happily linked her arm with Wise's as she spoke.
On the way to the restaurant, she called Anton and the others, telling them to resume construction as normal.
Wise smiled slightly at the sight, but then he suddenly sensed something and subtly scanned his surroundings from the corner of his eye.
Strange. Was it just his imagination?
No, it definitely wasn't.
His physique and the instincts he had honed over many months were both warning him.
Just now, a girl had been staring at him with a gaze sharp enough to make it seem as though she wanted to chop him apart with a cleaver.
To be safe, Wise casually turned his head.
Just in time to see a vaguely familiar figure dart into a nearby alley.
She was fast—but not fast enough to escape Wise's notice. Even with the disguise, he recognized her immediately.
Was that Anby?
No, definitely not.
Not only would Anby never look at him with such hostility, but if it really were her, she wouldn't be hiding from him like this.
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Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
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