Rentaro didn't think the trouble forcing Seitenshi to hire an external bodyguard, despite having her own security detail... was her own security detail.
When he saw the security guards in white uniforms marching in, Rentaro immediately noted that their skill level was not bad, but it was only useful for dealing with ordinary people. If faced with something more serious... they would absolutely be destroyed.
Seitenshi signaled for him to lean down and whispered into his ear.
"The leader of this security team is from Tendou Kikunojou's faction."
With that, Rentaro understood the real reason.
These men's abilities were not up to standard for real combat, because their main function was to monitor Seitenshi's every move, though perhaps the guards themselves were unaware of this.
Tendou had not fallen; Kikunojou was merely temporarily avoiding the brunt of the Silver King's influence. Holy Ruler Seitenshi was not completely free from his control.
"I am Second Lieutenant Yasuwaki Takuto, the captain of the security detail."
A neatly-dressed man wearing glasses smiled at Rentaro and extended his hand in greeting.
"If anything comes up, please assist us."
"Black Face, bodyguard for hire."
Rentaro didn't hesitate to extend his hand. As they shook hands, Rentaro could see the change in Takuto's eyes in an instant.
"Looks like he's not an ordinary item," he thought to himself.
After the greeting, Rentaro politely turned to Seitenshi, bowing in farewell.
"Your Excellency, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."
"Yes, you... Black Face..."
Seitenshi covered her mouth, her noble demeanor intact. She just found the scene very amusing, but in the eyes of the Second Lieutenant captain behind her, that smile carried a completely different meaning.
Rentaro had already left.
The meeting of all five powers was to begin the day after tomorrow, which meant he had to depart tomorrow. Although he had plenty of time, Rentaro felt it was essential to prepare thoroughly.
Because he sensed that this trip would be anything but ordinary.
This was a kind of intuition, baseless and without evidence. But sometimes, this kind of intuition was more accurate than hard facts.
In short, it wouldn't hurt to over-prepare.
"Oh dear, I'm lost..."
The Holy Residence was larger than he thought.
Looking at the endlessly long and connected hallways, wide enough for two lanes of traffic and ceilings twenty meters high, Rentaro suddenly felt a headache coming on.
He regretted not asking Seitenshi to have a servant guide him back.
Just as he was looking around confusedly, Rentaro suddenly sensed eyes cast upon him.
He was being watched.
"Who is it?"
Rentaro frowned, but continued to move without changing expression, avoiding the risk of alerting the enemy. He wanted to see which highly skilled and gutsy individual dared to follow him inside the Holy Residence.
After wandering for a bit, Rentaro entered a restroom.
Less than a minute later, three distinct sets of footsteps rushed into the restroom. These three people, suddenly, were members of Seitenshi's security detail, and one of them was indeed Second Lieutenant Yasuwaki Takuto.
All three were emanating murderous intent and were armed, clearly not intending anything good.
"Where is that guy? Find him for me!"
Takuto angrily ordered his two subordinates. But before they could react, a voice spoke from behind.
"Looking for me?"
Rentaro calmly closed the restroom stall door and glanced at the three men.
Seeing that they had hostile intentions, he was too lazy to speak to them in a polite tone.
"You freak... Black Face... I don't care who you are... I don't know what kind of freak crawled out of what hole. But you must refuse this job immediately."
Takuto sneered.
He recalled the way Seitenshi whispered to Black Face, the way Seitenshi smiled at Black Face. This drove him mad, his eyes looking ready to spit fire.
Seitenshi was always friendly to everyone, true, but she was like a goddess, always a thousand miles away; no one could step into her heart.
However, those actions and expressions could no longer be called friendly; they were... intimate.
That was something Takuto couldn't accept.
"Get out and never come back."
"Oh, why?"
Rentaro crossed his arms over his chest, casually leaning against the door, acting as if he had no regard for them. Takuto grew gloomier but still offered an explanation.
"Lord Tendou entrusted Her Excellency Seitenshi to me before he left... The person who stands next to Her must be me!"
"Oh, that's interesting. But Lord Tendou also entrusted me with the mission to protect Her Excellency Seitenshi."
Rentaro mocked him.
The "Lord Tendou" in his sentence was certainly not Tendou Kikunojou. But Rentaro wanted to test Yasuwaki Takuto a little, to see how enraged he could become.
"Impossible! I am Lord Tendou's loyal follower! Who the hell are you..."
"Stop it. If you have the ability, tell Her Excellency Seitenshi to fire me. Otherwise... go ahead and roar, Lieutenant."
Facing Takuto's roaring, Rentaro remained completely composed, which made the Lieutenant explode with rage.
Takuto drew his gun and aimed straight at Rentaro, his eyes bloodshot.
"Black Face, if you don't know your place..."
"Break his arms and legs for me."
As Takuto commanded, the two remaining guards coldly advanced toward Rentaro. Rentaro's smile also ceased; if this bastard dared to cross the line, he wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson.
People don't always talk things out peacefully. A little deterrent was necessary.
One man was immediately kicked by Rentaro, sending him slamming into a restroom stall, causing the plastic partition to bend and warp from the sheer force. The other man rushed forward only to be grabbed by his forearm and hurled toward the other man's position. Both men let out a miserable yell, their pupils rolled back and then immediately fainted from the shock.
Takuto was terrified, stunned for a moment. Seizing this opportunity, Rentaro sprang forward, moving so quickly that the Lieutenant couldn't react in time to fire his gun.
Boom!
A punch was thrown, leaving a large, fist-sized dent in the wall behind the Lieutenant, with dozens of cracks spreading out from it, a truly horrifying sight.
Takuto's face was drained of all color, his entire body slumped down onto the floor, the gun in his hand now held precariously.
The corner of his eye caught the mark on the wall, his pale face turning into a look of extreme horror. Thinking of the scene where that punch might have hit his head instead of the wall, smashing it like a watermelon, Takuto was scared the piss out of him.
Rentaro retracted his hand, giving Takuto a half-smile as he lightly patted his shoulder.
"That's that. Happy cooperating, Lieutenant."
Seeing Takuto still trembling and silent, he paid him no mind and walked out. Although Tendou Kikunojou had ostensibly left, his residual influence remained, and Rentaro wasn't ready to move against the old man's people just yet.
This was simply a warning.
A long while after Rentaro had left, Takuto finally reacted, looking at his soaked pants and his miserable state. Yasuwaki Takuto began to frantically scream.
"I will kill you, Black Face!!!"