As Binchotan and her granddaughter successfully settled in, Zhong Chen began to patrol his core territory with a swagger.
"I laugh triumphantly, I laugh triumphantly…"
Zhong Chen sang triumphantly while constantly looking at the surrounding stalls, wondering which ones still hadn't paid their protection fees today.
Whoosh… a figure in a blue uniform suddenly appeared in front of Zhong Chen.
The person respectfully bowed with his right hand over his chest, then handed a piece of paper to Zhong Chen with both hands:
"Lord Chen, this is important intelligence that Souei asked your subordinate to report to you."
Hearing this, Zhong Chen put away his playful expression, reached out, took the intelligence, and opened it.
The note read: The Eastern Empire is mobilizing for war, and it is expected that they will launch an offensive in one month.
After reading it, a flame appeared in Zhong Chen's hand, burning the note to ashes, and a cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"One month later? They're really confident, then we'll see who wins in the end."
"You can go back now, tell Souei I know."
"Yes! Your subordinate takes his leave!"
The intelligence agent bowed respectfully and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Although Zhong Chen received this news, he didn't take it to heart.
He had entrusted everything to Benimaru, so he had to trust Benimaru's capabilities.
Zhong Chen, who considered himself a good leader, would never play the game of giving empty orders like some people.
"Hmm, where should I spend my time this month? Binchotan is already settled…"
"Oh, right, I can go to Academy City first! And I need to go find Aleister to collect my royalties!"
"Uh… Host, it seems like you're the one who pirated from him, right?"
"What are you talking about! As long as I don't say anything, who would know who established this first!"
"I'll just say I established it first, what's wrong with that!"
"Host, your shamelessness truly embodies my essence!"
"Are you trying to take advantage of me?!"
"I'm complimenting you!"
"…"
Zhong Chen didn't continue bickering with the System, but instead wondered whether he should go for a stroll by himself or take Rimuru and the others with him.
After thinking for a while, Zhong Chen decided to go by himself.
This time, he planned to just go and check things out first, after all, war with the Eastern Empire was about to begin.
Although he wouldn't personally intervene, that didn't mean he wouldn't pay attention.
"It's decided then!"
"A Chen, what did you decide?"
Just as Zhong Chen was about to quietly set off by himself, Kanae Kocho, carrying a stack of documents, arrived behind him with Kochou Shinobu.
"Nothing… nothing!"
"Huh? How suspicious!"
After hearing Zhong Chen's words, Kochou Shinobu came in front of him with a suspicious look and stared into his eyes.
Under Kochou Shinobu's gaze, Zhong Chen's eyes couldn't help but drift to the side.
"Hmph, you bad guy are definitely hiding something!"
"Shinobu! You're slandering me! Be careful, I'll tell Ultima on you!"
Caught red-handed, Zhong Chen immediately shouted in a fit of pique.
"Hmph, hmph, tell on me? It's not certain whose side Sister Ultima will take!"
Hearing Kochou Shinobu's words, Zhong Chen looked at her in shock and said:
"Good heavens, blatant collusion between officials and merchants, isn't it!"
"It seems I need to find someone to thoroughly rectify the judicial system!"
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, Kanae Kocho, who had been watching the two with a gentle smile, suddenly spoke:
"A Chen, I am the highest person in charge of investigating issues like official corruption, you know!"
"Huh???"
"Hahaha, you bad guy, didn't expect that, did you? The person in charge of rectification is my sister!"
Kochou Shinobu looked at Zhong Chen triumphantly, while Zhong Chen at this moment wore an expression of utter despair.
"Damn it! You really have powerful connections!"
"No wonder you dare to run a shady business on Commercial Street!"
"Hmph, you bad guy, don't change the subject, hurry up and tell me, what did you decide?"
Seeing that Kochou Shinobu wasn't fooled by him, Zhong Chen put away his despairing expression.
He said seriously:
"Alright, alright, you win, actually, it's like this…"
As Zhong Chen explained, the two girls also learned that Zhong Chen wanted to visit the real Academy City.
"Bad guy, I want to go too!"
"You want to go too? Isn't your barbecue restaurant open?"
"Hmph, hmph, I conscripted that guy Ace, so now I have plenty of time to go with you!"
Kochou Shinobu put her hands on her hips and looked at Zhong Chen triumphantly.
"A Chen, just take her with you. She bothers me when she has nothing to do, and my work is getting delayed."
Hearing Kanae Kocho's words, Zhong Chen could only nod in agreement helplessly.
"Alright, but let's be clear, once we're there, all actions are under my command!"
"Don't worry!"
Zhong Chen, having received Kochou Shinobu's promise, nodded in satisfaction.
And behind Zhong Chen, where he didn't notice, Kanae Kocho was looking at Kochou Shinobu with an encouraging expression.
Shinobu! I've given you the opportunity, whether you can seize it is up to you!
Receiving her sister's signal, Kochou Shinobu immediately returned a reassuring look.
Don't worry! This time, that bad guy will definitely not escape my grasp!
"Kanae, then I'll take Shinobu and go."
"Also, you don't have to work so hard. Just leave everything to the people below."
"After all…"
"After all, they're getting paid! I know!"
Kanae Kocho said with a smile, finishing Zhong Chen's sentence.
Hearing Kanae Kocho's words, Zhong Chen knew that his words were wasted again.
Kanae was almost a workaholic now, which meant that the two of them had less time for… that.
"Forget it, suit yourself. I should have known not to let you be some secretary-general…"
Hearing Zhong Chen's soft mumble, Kanae Kocho came to Zhong Chen with a gentle expression.
She looked up and stood on her tiptoes, her fragrant red lips gently imprinted on Zhong Chen's right cheek.
Then Kanae stepped back, her face slightly flushed, and whispered:
"Alright, don't be unhappy. It'll be fine after I get through this busy period."
"After all, the conference just ended, and there are indeed quite a few things to deal with."
Feeling the fragrance on his face, the corner of Zhong Chen's mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.
At this moment, Kochou Shinobu was blushing, watching the two interact.
Wow! Sister is so bold, daring to… in broad daylight! Truly worthy of being my sister!
"Hehe… I want more!"
Hearing Zhong Chen's presumptuous words, Kanae playfully slapped Zhong Chen lightly.
"Alright, hurry up and leave."
"Yes Madam!"
Zhong Chen saluted comically, then grabbed Kochou Shinobu's small hand and rushed into the opened Dimensional Gate.
"Hey, hey, hey!!! I haven't even gotten my clothes yet!"
As the Dimensional Gate disappeared, Kanae, hearing Kochou Shinobu's final exclamation, couldn't help but shake her head with a smile…