Chapter 83

Exusiai caught a whiff of sweetness, quickly located its source. Seeing the pile of desserts that Shirou had laid out on the table, Exusiai experienced what happiness truly meant.

She's a Laterano, and a Sarkaz at that.

In Laterano, you can get a colorful cotton candy by walking around the streets with a stick, which shows how much Laterano people love sweets.

Moreover, she is Sarkaz, and a qualified Sarkaz can make at least twenty kinds of desserts, and even the dishes served at important banquets are desserts.

Although Exusiai is an anomaly who has a particular fondness for Apple Pie, it doesn't prevent her from having pure Laterano blood!

She could tell from the smell that the desserts on the table came from that super famous store in the Dagu Shopping District!

That shop is expensive; she would have to spend a lot of her small fortune on Apple Pie to buy such a large table of food.

"Shirou, what's wrong with you...?"

Sora swallowed hard as she looked at the table full of desserts: cookies, chocolates, macarons, cupcakes, Apple Pie... Not to mention her and Exusiai, who both have a deep obsession with desserts, even Texas and Croissant were stunned by the sight of this feast.

"Uh... I originally meant to buy some desserts to ask about something, but I accidentally bought a whole bunch."

Seeing the reactions of the others, Shirou realized that he had bought a bit too much. He had originally intended to buy a few small cakes, but after being persuaded by the staff, he bought a lot more.

And then there are these on the table.

"This isn't just a slip of the hand, is it?"

Texas complained.

"Buying so much probably means you're not asking about anything, but rather pursuing someone, right? Shirou, just tell me who you want to pursue, there's no need to make it so complicated."

Croissant, standing to the side, took out her phone and started taking pictures as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Such a grand scene of a table full of desserts is rare, especially since they came from a famous shop and the desserts were very exquisite and cute.

Seeing Croissant start taking pictures, Exusiai nearby, also took out their phones and started taking pictures as well.

Texas wasn't so enthusiastic about this kind of thing. She simply gave Shirou a thumbs-up, grabbed a chocolate cake, and sat down on the sofa.

"... I really just wanted to ask a few questions." Shirou said with a helpless expression, "I just wanted to ask where you usually get your Croissant from, and what you should pay attention to when buying and selling things."

"Hmm? Shirou, you're interested in setting up a stall too?"

Upon hearing that Shirou wanted to learn some business experience from him, Croissant was no longer sleepy.

It's a really happy thing to have your hobbies recognized by others!

"No, it's just that someone I know is planning to open a shop."

Shirou didn't tell the Penguin Logistics team what he was planning to do, mainly because it was pointless, and secondly because Penguin Logistics staff were easily targeted in the Slums, so he didn't want to cause them any trouble.

The advice I gave him included a note telling him to remember to wear a hooded jacket when he went out, and to try to cover his appearance as much as possible when he was out, so as to save a lot of unnecessary trouble.

"Friend... Shirou, are you a social terrorist?"

Croissant complained, she remembered that Shirou had only been in Lungmen for almost two months, and he already knew people?

And they're the kind of people who come to ask questions.

"What are you thinking? We just met while chatting while buying groceries."

Listening to Croissant's words, Shirou could roughly guess Croissant was thinking. Shirou felt that if he spent more time with the Penguin Logistics, he might be able to communicate with them through eye contact later.

"Hmm... alright, since you're being so sincere, Shirou, I'll share a little. But I don't think they're a street vendor, are they?"

Croissant said reluctantly, but in order to avoid having her business stolen by other vendors in her future street vending life, she still asked.

"I already said it's a shop, just in the Slums, so it won't steal your business."

Shirou knew what Croissant was worried about and emphasized it.

"Tsk, are people who own shops the ultimate winners in life?"

After confirming that they weren't in the same industry Croissant gathered some business insights and shared them with Shirou.

"Hiss... How long do you think Shirou's friend can hold out?"

Seeing Croissant sharing all her knowledge, Exusiai chimed in with an Exusiai remark.

Shirou must be out of his mind; why would he go and ask Croissant for advice?

"Croissant just has bad taste, but otherwise she's fine."

Texas was eating chocolate cake nearby, said.

"What I'm more worried about is whether Shirou's taste will be influenced by Croissant..."

Compared to Exusiai the show, and Texas, who was too lazy to think about anything while indulging in the delicious food, Sora was a bit more thoughtful, and even felt that the dessert in her hand didn't taste so good anymore.

"..."

After learning about Sora's worries, Exusiai and Texas also realized the seriousness of the situation.

If Shirou's taste is truly assimilated by Croissant, then there's a really big problem!

You should know that most of the everyday items Croissant bought with her Croissant are unusable by humans!

The three recognized each other with their eyes and instantly communicated.

I really need to have a good talk with Shirou later, and make sure he doesn't learn bad Croissant!

Once the three of them had successfully exchanged glances, Croissant briefly explained some important points to Shirou.

What should I pay attention to when purchasing goods? How should I store them? How should I target my customer base?

Although these are all very basic, they are all very useful for Shirou.

"That's about it for the business aspects. As for products, I can recommend some... Waaaaah!"

After finishing one paragraph, Croissant was about to start the next topic when three people from Penguin Logistics rushed up and covered her mouth.

That's all.

Texas supported Croissant's right side and said.

"Hey! Stop! Let's not talk about products anymore. Shirou, you don't want your friend's shop to go out of business, do you?"

"That 'Exusiai was Croissant's left side, said."

As for Kong? She was trying her best to cover the Croissant's mouth.

"Hmm? Ah! Oh, okay."

Before he could react, Shirou noticed the strange looks on the three of them and then Croissant the pile of odd and unusual croissants.

They almost got caught up in it, but thankfully the three of them stopped Croissant.

"You guys have gone too far!"

After breaking free from the three people's restraints, Croissant pointed at everyone and said loudly.

"Croissant, although it's hurtful to say this, please have some self-awareness, okay?"

Exusiai patted Croissant on the shoulder earnestly and said.

"I suspect you're all bullying me, Croissant!"

"Just telling the truth."

"This is outrageous!"

Watching Exusiai, Texas, and Croissant pointing and cursing at each other, Shirou felt exhausted.

Meanwhile, Sora had long since left the battlefield and returned to the table to quietly clean up the desserts.

Penguin Logistics is always like this, you'll get used to it.

"Sigh... Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't. Don't you know you'll lose me if you keep doing this?"

After arguing for a while, Croissant also felt a little tired. She had indeed talked a lot with Shirou, while Texas and Exusiai had eaten dessert to replenish their energy.

Croissant felt her brain wasn't working properly and needed a little sugar to boost it, so she went over to Shirou and Sora to get a dessert to eat.

"Eat up, I saved some for you."

Shirou hadn't forgotten that these desserts were meant as tuition for asking Croissant for Croissant.

"Waaah... Shirou, you're such a nice person, completely different from Nobita and the others."

Croissant felt the care from her teammate when she saw the dessert that Shirou had saved for her.

Look! What a great teammate! She was almost moved to tears.

"That's an exaggeration."

Exusiai sat down and enjoyed the remaining Apple Pie, while casually commenting on Croissant's exaggerated acting.

Texas, on the other side, also found a seat, but she didn't touch any more desserts. Although she loves chocolate and coffee, she still controls her intake.

Pocky was an exception; it was her lifeline.

After sitting down and taking a sip of coffee, Texas remembered that there was something she needed to inform everyone, so she took out her phone and said, "I have something to inform you. Isv has found out the identities of the people who attacked us a few days ago."

It's nothing major; the identities of those who suddenly attacked them a few days ago have been confirmed.

The reason it's not a big deal is quite simple.

After all, Penguin Logistics has many enemies. Knowing their identities means that if you see them later, you can just blow them up... cough cough, I mean avoid them.

"Hmm... It's another logistics company? Are they planning to steal our Penguin Logistics business?"

Looking at the information from Isv on Texas's phone, Exusiai sensed that things were getting a bit complicated.

If it's just someone stealing goods, a beating might be enough, but if they're planning to steal business, then it's really dangerous.

However, considering that the other party chased them directly in the street and used lethal spells and crossbows, their intention was clearly to kill them.

"Isn't there any way to notify the Knights of the Round Table?"

Shirou, a newbie at Penguin Logistics, looked at the information on his phone from afar and asked a question.

His logic was simple: if there was a problem, he would report it to the Knights of the Round Table and let them handle it.

"The acquisition of this information was through illegal channels, and it is mostly conjecture. The Knights of the Round Table will not handle it, at least not openly, so they cannot take direct action."

Texas gave a simple explanation, saying that there are many rules, both overt and covert, and it's easy to get caught up in them if you're not careful.

Anyway, Penguin Logistics doesn't need to worry about these things; they strictly adhere to Lungmen's rules to a certain extent.

"I understand, it's a gas explosion."

When Texas mentioned things like the light and the dark, Shirou understood the general meaning.

He's familiar with this; he uses the gas explosion as a shield whenever something happens.

"Why was it a gas explosion?"

Exusiai couldn't understand Shirou's thought process and began to seriously consider whether the people at Penguin Logistics had led Shirou astray.

"Ah! That... it's my code word."

Shirou brushed it off, saying he'd just blurted it out without thinking.

"What a strange code... even stranger than Sister Neng's Apuru Pie."

Do you have a problem with my Apple Pie?

Croissant complained, and then was tickled by Exusiai.

Ignoring the two playful individuals nearby, Texas and Sora briefly explained the situation to Shirou, as it was the first time Shirou had encountered such a situation.

"Don't be too nervous in this situation. Is just Isv a message to explain the situation. They should already be handling it. We just need to be a little careful these days."

Although she knew that Shirou was very good at fighting, Sora still carefully and cautiously told Shirou how to deal with him.

For both public and private reasons, she didn't want anything to happen to Shirou. Of course, it wasn't just Shirou; she also hoped that everyone at Penguin Logistics could continue to enjoy every day as happily as they do now.

However, even Sora herself knew that this idea was very naive, but that didn't stop her from working towards it.

"However, if a real crisis occurs, it's okay to take action directly. Prioritize your own safety and don't go too far; the boss can handle it."

Texas reminded Shirou.

Of course, Texas meant wiping out the opponent when she made a move, since it's hard to hold back when your life is threatened.

"I see."

Shirou understood what Texas meant, but he had plenty of ways to escape, so it didn't matter to him.

"Hmm... I understand."

Looking at Shirou's expression, Texas doubted whether Shirou had understood her meaning at all, but since he had already made it clear, she didn't continue.