Penguin Logistics Is Just a Small Company

"Texas."

After ending the call, Exusiai asked curiously, "Even though that guy really is awful, wasn't it you who wrecked the boss's car?"

"The responsibility isn't mine."

Texas explained the traffic laws to Exusiai. "I saw a cat on the road and crashed into a utility pole while avoiding it. Naturally, the cat should compensate for the damage. That's only reasonable."

Her reasoning was sound and convincing.

Exusiai scratched her head. "Something about that doesn't feel right..."

They moved cautiously, trying not to alert the enemy, but Exusiai's "Energy Ring" kept exposing their location, forcing them to run themselves ragged.

Meanwhile, Emperor was flipping through a list in the bar.

"Hogg?"

He truly had no impression of that name. The only thing he could confirm was that this person had definitely never come to the bar for a drink.

Anyone who had come and heard Emperor perform live, Emperor would never forget.

He finally found the name, and the words slipped out before he could stop them.

"Where did this dog come from?"

Compared with an easy-on-the-eyes Lupo girl like Texas, this fellow was clearly much hairier. A black-and-gray hound with obvious furry features and slightly neurotic amber eyes, he made Emperor shake his head the moment he saw him.

"A loser like this isn't friend material."

His bar had surely been watched too, but Emperor was not worried in the slightest.

This was the base. Penguin Logistics' bar was across the street, and the two were connected by an underground passage.

Penguin Logistics employees had to clock in at the bar across the street before work.

Afterward, they entered the base through the passage.

Even if the enemy were crazy enough to blow up the bar across the street, they would never imagine that the base was actually on the other side of the road. That was what they called hiding in plain sight.

Emperor's real treasures, those records, were all hidden inside this doorless concrete shell.

Beep beep beep~~

Emperor answered the phone.

"Emperor, you've caused trouble for Lungmen again."

"Why is it you? I thought Rat King would be the one coming after me. Penguin Logistics is just a delivery company burdened with responsibilities it shouldn't have to bear. And you come right in, slapping labels on people. Are you even going to let me hold a concert in peace?"

The caller was Lin Yuhsia.

The spokesperson for the slums, a beautiful purple-haired girl with an air of nobility. Emperor remembered her and felt that she could become one of his fans.

"Hogg is only a microcosm. He represents the countless organization leaders in Lungmen whom you have frightened out of their wits."

Lin Yuhsia asked in a calm tone, "So tell me, what exactly does an established messenger organization want with the rising Yae Shrine? It's not only them. We would also very much like to know."

"Uh..."

I can't exactly admit that I've run out of inspiration, can I? It would be far too embarrassing to say something like that out loud.

If he gave the reason, would his career as a rapper be over?

"Can't say it?"

Lin Yuhsia waited silently for a full minute, so quiet that it seemed as though she had hung up. Then, without warning, her gentle voice exploded in his ear like a cruel judgment. "Then I'll assume you have an unspeakable secret. Mediation is canceled. We will stand by and watch this farce unfold. This is Lungmen, so please do not use any dangerous weapons."

"Fine, fine. It's not like you people ever do anything anyway."

Emperor was utterly helpless.

Why had all the big shots in this city-state decided that he was some dangerous criminal?

I have a conspiracy?

How come I didn't know I had a conspiracy?

It was as though every move Emperor made concealed some unspeakable purpose. In truth, he simply wanted to save his career as a rapper, find some excitement, and spark some inspiration. That was all.

He was just the owner of a delivery company and a rapper. There were plenty of delivery companies like Penguin Logistics all over Lungmen, okay?

Emperor was deeply annoyed.

And the more annoyed he became, the more unpleasant everyone looked.

He stared at the list, and Hogg's amber beast eyes became increasingly repulsive to him.

"The weather's turned cold. Make this guy get out of Lungmen."

On the outskirts of the city, in the Lungmen Outer Ring.

Croissant walked ahead with a thoroughly confused expression, while Hoshino followed behind at an unhurried pace. The farther they went, the more Hoshino felt that something was off about Croissant's expression.

"Are we lost?"

Hoshino offered the reminder kindly.

"We're not lost. I know very well that this is the Lungmen Outer Ring, but the boss said Texas and Exusiai came by car. We should be able to hear roaring engines, so why can't I hear anything?"

"Maybe they're veteran drivers, so they drive too smoothly?"

"..."

Croissant did not respond to the joke.

Hoshino pricked up her ears and caught the vibrations traveling through the air. A convoy of over thirty vehicles was heading toward them.

Dust rose beyond the horizon.

A drone flew overhead. It was definitely too late to hide. Croissant raised her shield, while Hoshino reached for the sword at her waist. Remembering Lungmen's regulations, she released Sakura Fubuki and rested her hand on another wooden sword instead.

The convoy gradually drew near.

The roaring convoy stopped before them. The man at its head was Hogg, the very same person who had surrounded Texas and Exusiai earlier. He was still fuming.

"Croissant?"

He rolled down his window in surprise. "And that shrine maiden too. What a godsend..."

Hoshino tilted her head and exchanged a glance with Croissant. After receiving an affirmative response, she silently walked forward, one hand on her sword hilt. She drew it an inch, and her body suddenly became elusive and unpredictable.

Cherry blossoms drifted down from the sky.

In an instant, an unstoppable sharpness swept from front to back like a tsunami.

It ended before it even began.

Once the dust settled, Hoshino knocked out the last enemy who tried to ram her with a car, dragged him out of the driver's seat, and turned off the engine. Her movements were remarkably practiced.

"I'm guessing they abandoned the car and escaped, but they didn't take the main road, so we missed each other."

Hoshino's analysis was perfectly logical.

"After all, Exusiai's Energy Ring would spot them immediately even if they hid in the grass."

She lowered her head to look at the groaning enemies. Some had even passed out outright. It did not take much effort for her to find Hogg, who had been knocked to the ground.

"You're Hogg?"

He froze for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"Just as I thought! Penguin Logistics brought you here to deal with me. Now you've achieved your goal!"

"?"

Hoshino turned and gave Croissant a questioning look. Croissant covered her face awkwardly, then explained helplessly, "It might have something to do with how my boss operates, which is why these people have become so jumpy..."

"A bunch of jumpy people? You mean there's more than just me?"

Hogg, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly let out a shrill scream as though something had deeply disturbed him.

"More than just me? Penguin Logistics really is Lungmen's most ruthless underworld gang! I'm going to spread this news to my friends in the business. When the time comes..."

Hoshino struck the back of his head with her sword hilt, knocking Hogg unconscious on the spot.

"Tch, what kind of mess is this?"