Help!
Five minutes earlier.
Sakurai Norika sat in the back seat of the jeep with a cold expression, while Yamamoto Takeo, in the passenger seat, hesitated several times as if he wanted to say something.
Sakurai Norika, who seemed to have been lost in thought, met Yamamoto Takeo's repeatedly turned gaze and said expressionlessly, "Mr. Yamamoto, if you have something to say, then say it!"
"Yes! Uh..."
Still hesitating and stammering, Yamamoto Takeo saw a trace of impatience appear in her eyes. The courage he had been building for so long burst out all at once, and he hurriedly said, "That Doctor Li is extremely difficult to deal with. He has his own connections in Japan as well. If we offend him, I'm afraid it'll be very difficult to get his assistance from here on."
He still remembered clearly how Li Bai had rejected him—completely impervious to both soft and hard tactics. No matter how much he pleaded, it had been useless.
The Japanese way of doing things was completely ineffective against him. He was utterly cold and heartless.
Earlier, Sakurai Norika had returned to the tavern alone. Who knew what she had said to that devil? She had very likely offended him already.
"Do you think I said something I shouldn't have?"
Sakurai Norika keenly sensed the implication behind Yamamoto Takeo's words, and her tone turned stern.
Naturally, she began taking offense out of embarrassment.
No matter who it was, when someone offered an opposing comment or opinion about their actions—even if it was correct, or entirely without malicious intent—they would still feel that honest advice was unpleasant to hear, and become unhappy.
"Yes, sumimasen, Lady Sakurai."
If they had not been in the car, Yamamoto Takeo would probably have performed another full prostration, the enhanced version of the