"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" After leaving the clothing store, Mine looked at Takeru with a pout.
"Huh? Did what on purpose?" Hearing Mine, Takeru played dumb.
"Just... just those things you said to the clerk. Clearly, that's what made them misunderstand!" Seeing Takeru's expression, Mine said angrily.
"Huh? Misunderstand? Misunderstand what?"
"Just... just about being a couple, you idiot!" Seeing Takeru's look, Mine said frantically.
"Oh, that." Seeing Mine's frantic expression, Takeru nodded with a smile.
But seeing Takeru admit it so readily, Mine was at a loss. She could only turn her head away. "Hmph, you playboy. You already have Leone, don't you? I'm telling Leone!"
"Is that so?" Hearing her words, Takeru still responded with a gentle smile.
Facing Takeru like this, Mine couldn't handle it at all. She could only continue shopping with a huff. Actually, her so-called anger was just a cover for her own shyness.
Every time she saw Takeru's gentle smile, Mine felt her heartbeat quicken. Honestly, Takeru's smile was a bit too cheating. Combined with his aura and usual behavior, it made people unconsciously develop a fondness for him.
Like when Mine scolded Leone for her actions towards Takeru, the most important thing was that Mine herself hadn't even discovered the hidden trace of envy and jealousy in her heart...
As for Takeru, he also had some fondness for Mine, though most of it stemmed from her experiences and actions in the original work.
In the anime, she kept saying she wanted to be the final winner, but in the end, she could only die tearfully in Tatsumi's arms, which was truly regrettable.
Seeing Mine also very fond of clothing, Takeru earnestly gave her suggestions. By around noon, Mine had bought several outfits.
Throughout the process, Takeru served her wholeheartedly like a boyfriend. In this atmosphere, their relationship quickly grew closer.
Finally, in the afternoon, the two enjoyed afternoon tea and pastries at a dessert shop with an extremely beautiful view.
With cherry blossoms falling, Takeru and Mine sitting there looked like a perfect golden couple, very eye-catching.
"I bought so much. Pink clothes are indeed better for spring!" Mine said with a sweet smile.
"Mhm." Hearing her words, Takeru nodded lightly, but his gaze was drawn to the lake beside them. Eating in such a place was an enjoyment in itself.
"On holidays, it's good to relax. Okay, mission accomplished!" After taking a sip of black tea, Mine said happily.
Suddenly, just as Takeru and Mine were enjoying the quiet moment, pedestrians on the road showed surprised, panicked expressions, then rushed towards a square in the capital.
Takeru slightly sensed it. In the square, five crosses were erected, with a body tied to each.
"Probably a public execution. Let's go take a look." Based on the crowd's reaction, Mine roughly understood and called Takeru to the square.
Seeing the miserable state of those on the crosses, Mine's expression darkened. "The one who does such things without a care is the current Prime Minister. He's the favored minister who placed the young emperor on the throne during the power struggle. I won't end up like that!"
'I must survive and become the winner!' Looking at the victims' misery, Mine hated it while also warning herself inwardly.
"Don't worry. If you are ever in danger, I'll definitely come to save you." Sensing Mine's emotional change, Takeru gently patted her shoulder to comfort her.
Hearing Takeru's words, Mine looked blankly at Takeru with his sunny smile.
But soon, she reacted, her face turning immensely red. "Stu... stupid! Worry about yourself first! Don't end up needing me to save you!"
Simultaneously, inside the palace, the young emperor, following the Prime Minister's words, was passing judgment on a civil official.
"Civil Official Sawyer, for your crime of criticizing my policies and delaying government affairs, I sentence you to death by ox-tearing. Will that do, Prime Minister?" After speaking, the little emperor looked at the obese minister beside him.
The officials below, seeing the emperor's actions, those with any conscience left showed shocked expressions, feeling injustice for Sawyer. But under the Prime Minister's oppression, no one dared say a word...
"Haha, Your Majesty is wise, truly a brilliant ruler!" Hearing the emperor, Honest, munching on some unknown monster meat, chuckled and said.
"Your Majesty, you are deceived by the Prime Minister! Please listen to the people's voices with your own ears!" Seeing the emperor obeying the Prime Minister completely, and since he was going to die anyway, Sawyer shouted loudly.
"Hey, Prime Minister, he's saying such things!" Hearing Sawyer, the little emperor still looked inquiringly at the Prime Minister.
"He must have lost his mind." The Prime Minister looked at the emperor with a gentle smile.
"Mhm. Since long ago, your words have never been wrong." Seeing the Prime Minister's expression, the little emperor didn't doubt him at all.
Hearing the emperor's words, Sawyer showed a look of despair. The Prime Minister looked at him with a cold smile.
"Sawyer-sama, what a sad farewell. I'll take care of your lovely wife you leave behind. I'll take good care of her… every part of her." With an evil smile, Prime Minister approached Sawyer and whispered.
Under endless despair, Sawyer could only be dragged away by the guards...
Cases like Sawyer's were not the first, nor would they be the last.
...
When Takeru and Mine returned to headquarters, Najenda was already waiting for them because a new mission had appeared.
"The target is Iokal, a distant relative of the Prime Minister. He uses the minister's name to kidnap women, commit violent acts, and torture them to death. The five mercenaries guarding him, sharing in the spoils, are also guilty. This is an important mission. All members, mobilize!" Najenda directly addressed everyone.
Then, when night fell, everyone quickly headed towards Iokal's residence. Since Takeru was still under Mine's tutelage, he naturally took over for Sheele and acted with Mine.
Because Mine was responsible for long-range sniping, Takeru was by her side for protection.
The location Takeru and the others chose was on a plateau very far from the mansion. Here, Mine quickly adjusted her state.
"At this distance, I can usually hit. When he comes out of the mansion, I'll take him down with one shot!" Mine aimed at the mansion direction, speaking calmly and collectedly.
Mine's focus became extremely intense. Takeru, on his side, spread his Observation Haki, probing the surroundings for any movement.
As for the mansion, since the distance exceeded two kilometers, Takeru's Observation Haki couldn't reach that far. They could only observe using binoculars.
"Enemy coming out!" Soon, Mine, using the rifle's scope, saw the enemy emerge. Takeru had already noticed, but apart from the target, he was surrounded by many servants.
It seemed the target was very cautious. Even in his own mansion, he wouldn't easily put himself in danger.
But unfortunately, he was facing top sniper Mine. Under Mine's aim, even if Iokal only exposed a small gap of his head, Mine could fire a shot from over two kilometers away and accurately kill him.
"As expected of you, Mine." Hearing her words, Takeru said with a smile.
"Hmph, of course! I'm a shooting genius!" Hearing Takeru's praise, Mine instinctively blushed a little.
"Don't worry. The guards that appear next, I'll clear them out." In Takeru's perception, with Iokal's death, guards there had mobilized in large numbers and soon reached a position less than a kilometer from Takeru and the others.
After briefly sensing the number, Takeru retracted his Observation Haki, maintaining it at a safe distance of one hundred meters...