"Actually, it's Miss Muroto Sumire from the Imperial Academy of Sciences."
Hearing that name, Zhong Chen couldn't help but be stunned. How did Ace come into contact with Muroto Sumire?
Muroto Sumire was once one of the Four Sages in the Black Bullet world, a scientist and a doctor.
After Zhong Chen destroyed the world, because he had not persecuted the Cursed Children, he was able to join the Monster Country Federation and had been responsible for scientific research ever since.
According to Zhong Chen, she was someone who enjoyed researching corpses, had sloppy living habits, often starved herself until she fainted because she ran out of food.
Just one incident is enough to know what kind of shut-in she was.
She once starved herself to death in her own lab! It was Ultima who resurrected her in the end.
After that, the Academy of Sciences specially arranged for someone to take care of her basic life.
"Crack... Pfft... Ace, tell us, how did you two meet? It's not unrequited love, is it?"
Zhong Chen and the other two stared at Ace with shining eyes. Seeing this, Ace knew that if he didn't speak, these three guys would never let him go.
"Actually, it's like this..."
Ace and Muroto Sumire's encounter was somewhat coincidental. At that time, Ace was able to return to the Monster Country Federation thanks to Lord Chen's great mercy.
However, upon his return, Ace, penniless, looked at the dazzling array of goods on Commercial Street and felt like crying without tears.
Finally, he bit the bullet and went to Rouge's orphanage, where he happened to meet Muroto Sumire, who was there to explain the basic principles of nuclear fusion.
Ace was then deeply attracted by her melancholic temperament, vacant eyes, and messy hair.
He wanted to go up and chat but was too embarrassed, so he could only watch Muroto Sumire finish her teaching and leave the orphanage.
After that, whenever Ace had free time, he would wander around the Imperial Academy of Sciences.
This made Souka think that his subordinate had discovered a special situation in the Academy of Sciences, so he specifically sent an undercover agent to investigate thoroughly.
In the end, nothing was found, and an elite agent was lost.
The reason was that the agent suddenly realized that scientific research was much more interesting than intelligence work, and then submitted a transfer application to Souka.
Souka was almost fuming with anger. And sure enough, Ace was exiled to the New World again, even implicating Lucci and Katakuri from the same team.
"Ace, you can't be like this. If you like someone, pursue them boldly. Don't wait until they have someone they like before regretting it."
Zhong Chen said to Ace with the air of an experienced man.
However, upon hearing Zhong Chen's words, the other three all looked at him with strange expressions.
Finally, Rob Lucci couldn't help but ask cautiously,
"Uh... Lord Chen? Have you ever pursued a girl?"
"Heh, what kind of question is that? Have you forgotten? My position is Imperial Prince! The women who pursue me... the women who pursue me... women..."
Zhong Chen's voice grew weaker and softer, as he suddenly realized a terrifying truth.
That was, he had never actually pursued a girl!
Kanae Kocho and Kochou Shinobu both actively pursued him. Rimuru was a natural progression due to long-term companionship.
Izayoi Sakuya's favorability was full from the start, and Testarossa directly forced Zhong Mou Ren (This person Zhong).
Other women, such as Esdeath, Rias, and Sona Sitri, also pursued Zhong Chen unilaterally.
So, from beginning to end, he had never actively pursued a girl; he had only passively accepted.
"Ahem... Why should I tell you my privacy? You are prying into the Empire's core secrets. Be careful, or you might end up experiencing the local customs in Impel Down!"
Looking at the exasperated Zhong Chen, Katakuri, who had been silent, uncharacteristically spoke up,
"Lord Chen, my girlfriend is the Vice Warden, so I'm very familiar with Impel Down."
Hearing Katakuri's voice, Zhong Chen immediately fell silent, turned his head to look at Rob Lucci and Ace, and sighed silently,
"Sigh, Katakuri, you've learned bad habits from those two."
After speaking, Zhong Chen turned back to Ace, showing a sincere expression, and said,
"In short, Ace, if you like her, go for it."
As he spoke, he pulled out a stack of lime coins from his pocket, painfully extracted one, and handed it to Ace:
"I'll personally sponsor you with some activity funds. No need to thank me; it's what I, as your direct superior, should do."
Ace's mouth twitched as he looked at the ten lime coins Zhong Chen handed him.
What could this amount of money buy? It wasn't even enough to buy the most common figurine from Miss Tamayo's shop!
No, the figurine shop has Lord Chen's shares, so he can't spend money there.
It's not even enough for barbecue... Uh... He can't go to the barbecue place either, he might get conscripted.
Academy City... Whitebeard is there, so he might get robbed if he goes.
Damn it! The vast Monster Country Federation actually had no place he could freely enter and exit.
Since that's the case, I'll take this money!
"Hehe, thank you, Lord Chen, for the activity funds. Your subordinate is truly grateful!"
Ace snatched the lime coins and flashed a fawning smile, as if he thought a bright smile could earn him an extra ten lime coins.
Katakuri, watching Ace's appearance from the side, couldn't help but turn his head away, not wanting to see this embarrassing guy anymore.
Rob Lucci's eyes, however, lit up, as if he had discovered something fun, and a mischievous smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He took out a twenty-lime coin note from his pocket and dangled it in front of Ace's eyes.
"Oh, if someone were willing to call me 'Godfather,' I wouldn't be unable to sponsor them."
But before Ace could utter the words "Godfather," the lime coin in Rob Lucci's hand had already vanished.
"Rob Lucci! I, as the highest authority in the Monster Country Federation, only gave ten coins, and you actually gave twenty?"
"This is a disregard for me, but since it's your first time, I, the Prince, will not quibble with you. However, the ill-gotten gains will be confiscated by me."
Zhong Chen eagerly stuffed the twenty lime coins into his pocket, his face still showing an expression as if he had made a huge profit.
But after seeing all three of them staring at him with disdain, Zhong Chen awkwardly pulled out a five-lime coin note and handed it to Ace.
"Ahem... Although I confiscated the ill-gotten gains, I won't be greedy with Lucci's sponsorship. Here, five coins. It doesn't exceed my standard, so gratefully accept it."
"By the way, Lucci, you told Ace to call you 'Godfather.' Aren't you afraid Whitebeard will come at you with a sword?"
Hearing Zhong Chen's words, Rob Lucci shrugged indifferently and said,
"I'll worry about that later; I'll enjoy myself first."
"You have potential, young man. With your shameless spirit, do you want to join the Do-Nothing Organization? The membership fee isn't expensive, only 8,888,888 lime coins to join. How about it, want to consider it?"
Rob Lucci shook his head vigorously after hearing that. Not to mention the exorbitant membership fee, he wouldn't dare to join even if it were free.
What kind of characters were in the Do-Nothing Organization? Any one of them was poor... ahem... the Empire's highest echelon.
What would he do there? A small ant mixing with a pile of space behemoths, wasn't he afraid of being accidentally stepped on? Although he could revive, it would still hurt!
"Your subordinate has no money, so I can only disappoint Lord Chen's kind offer."
"What a pity. Alright, I'm leaving. You three can do as you please."
As he finished speaking, Zhong Chen's figure instantly disappeared, reappearing beside Katsura Kotoha.
At the same time, the world returned to its usual colors and clamor...