Skadi, I Have a Girlfriend

I hope those idiots don't go looking for more trouble for me.

Ch'en couldn't help rubbing her forehead. What had happened with Mizuki before had sent Wei Yenwu into a fury. This kind of business had already crossed his bottom line. If Great Yan found out that something like this had happened in Lungmen under Wei Yenwu's rule, who knew what excuse Great Yan would use to make trouble and send people over?

As for Mizuki, although there were still many things she wanted to ask, he had lost his memories, and the Rhodes Island operatives stationed at the Lungmen office had no information either. There was no choice but to leave it at that.

However, judging from Emperor and Wei Yenwu's reactions, the people involved behind this definitely weren't simple. She had heard that Emperor had even arranged for Mizuki to join Penguin Logistics. Ch'en felt that was probably meant to protect him.

"But after Mizuki joins Penguin Logistics, surely he won't..."

A bang of an explosion interrupted Ch'en's muttering. She looked up toward the source of the blast. It was one of Lungmen's overpasses.

In broad daylight, right before everyone's eyes—how could such lawlessness be tolerated?

There was no need to think about it. The only people bold enough to play with explosions in Lungmen in the middle of the day were Penguin Logistics. Ch'en covered her face, then expertly mounted a motorcycle.

Inside the vehicle on the other end, Mizuki accelerated while weaving around the cars ahead, wondering whether joining Penguin Logistics had really been the right decision. Was his first day on the job supposed to be this exciting?

"Haha, Mizuki, your driving is way better than Texas's!"

Exusiai practically wanted to kiss Mizuki. They had him to thank this time—the people behind them couldn't even catch up.

No one had expected much at first, but Mizuki had surprised the four of them again. Not only could he drive, he could also take drainage-ditch corners and perform inertia drifts.

"Because I played a racing simulator last night."

Mizuki was a little proud. He learned anything quickly. He hadn't been very good at driving when he first got behind the wheel, but now he was handling it with ease.

Still, this was far too different from the job he had originally imagined. Mizuki had thought it would just be ordinary armed escort work. In his experience, things like this rarely went wrong.

"Exusiai, watch the rear. Croissant, protect the driver. Sora, keep an eye on our cargo!"

"Got it!"

Texas's practiced task assignments made it clear that Penguin Logistics had dealt with this sort of thing plenty of times. They were in a pursuit now, and protecting the cargo came first. Croissant raised her shield to block every crossbow bolt, while Exusiai leaned out and fired precise shots at the vehicles behind them.

Lungmen had Lungmen's rules. No matter what kind of person one had been outside, once they arrived here, they had to behave themselves. Wei Yenwu tacitly allowed certain gray-area practices, but he had also laid down rules.

First, the commotion could be big, but it could not go beyond control—for example, causing a widespread blackout or fire.

Second, both sides were permitted to use weapons, but indiscriminate killing was forbidden, and no Lungmen civilian could be harmed.

Third, causing widespread panic or violating Lungmen law was forbidden.

No matter which of those three rules was broken, the only thing waiting for the offender would be Wei Yenwu's wrath. No one wanted to offend Lungmen's iron-blooded governor.

Naturally, Exusiai was no exception, so she was using rubber bullets. Even so, combined with her Originium Arts, they were enough to puncture the tires of the cars behind them.

As for what problems an out-of-control vehicle might cause afterward? Sorry, that wasn't her concern. If a driver lost control and hit someone, that was because the other driver was incompetent. Exusiai's group was only retaliating in self-defense, so the Lungmen Guard Department wouldn't pin it on them.

"The Cat Gang again? Where did they get the nerve to provoke us?"

Her excellent eyesight let Exusiai spot the emblem inside the other vehicle. She helplessly tapped her head with the butt of her gun.

"Probably because this cargo is too tempting. The antiques inside were supposedly smuggled by the Cat Gang, but someone intercepted them. So they want to take them back from us."

The client had made the situation clear when placing the commission, so Texas wasn't surprised. She merely glanced at Mizuki in surprise. At this speed, he could still avoid the traffic ahead, and the key was that he was keeping it right at the limit without speeding.

Penguin Logistics had really found a treasure this time. Not only did they have someone to cook for them, but they also had a good driver. Later, they could consider having Mizuki actually take a driver's license test.

"Antiques? Croissant, you'd better keep a close eye on them. We can't afford to pay for those!"

"Who do you think I am?"

As Croissant spoke, she blocked several more crossbow bolts. Sora moved the crates in the back to the front. Exusiai sat in the passenger seat, where it was safer, but that was also why she saw Ch'en racing over on a motorcycle through the rearview mirror.

"Officer Ch'en is here!"

"It's fine. We weren't speeding."

Only after saying that did Exusiai realize something seemed off. They weren't speeding, so why did it feel like they were going so fast? The Cat Gang members behind them had the same question.

"Damn it, why is the car ahead going so fast?"

"Speed up already!"

"I've practically worn out the brakes!"

The driver had barely finished speaking when his companions beside him were left completely dumbfounded.

"...What the hell are you stepping on the brakes for? Let go!"

"What the hell are you talking about? I've been driving for eight years! I'm known as the second Lungmen Ghost!"

"Damn it, move over! I'll drive!"

The companion in the passenger seat couldn't stand it anymore and simply traded places with the driver. But when he sat in the driver's seat and looked up at Penguin Logistics gradually pulling farther away, it suddenly felt as though a colorful bubble had burst before his eyes.

His gaze turned resolute. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, then... pressed even harder on the brakes.

"Wait, maybe we're not driving too fast. Maybe all the cars around us are slowing down?"

Texas also noticed something was wrong. She had been too caught up in the fight to realize it earlier, but now that she looked, the other cars had simply stopped.

"What happened?"

"No idea."

Exusiai and Croissant looked utterly baffled. Sora had no idea what was going on either, but Mizuki still kept them under the speed limit as he drove them away.

Ch'en looked suspiciously at Scarlet Sky hanging at her waist. When she had wanted to tighten her grip on the brake, Scarlet Sky's sword aura had broken through the haze.

"This is... Originium Arts?"

Could It Really Be Love at First Sight?

Although they had shaken off the Cat Gang, they were still brought into the Lungmen Guard Department in the end. The reason wasn't speeding or causing an explosion, but driving without a license. Croissant's fake license couldn't fool Ch'en.

As someone entering a police station for the first time, Mizuki felt somewhat embarrassed. After all, he had been the driver.

"How did you pick up bad habits from Penguin Logistics?"

Mizuki's driving skills were indeed excellent, but driving without a license was a fact. However, that wasn't why Ch'en had called him here.

"I work at Penguin Logistics now."

"I know that. Forget it. Since it's your first time, I'll let it slide. At least you didn't cause any accidents."

Ch'en didn't want to make things difficult for Mizuki. The kid had already suffered enough, yet he had joined Penguin Logistics, probably the most restless group in all of Lungmen. On his first day of work, he had already been brought to the Guard Department. No one else had luck like that.

Under normal procedures, the vehicle should have been impounded, his license revoked with a warning, and a fine issued. But the offender was Penguin Logistics, so they couldn't handle it by conventional means. If they followed every proper procedure, the vehicles confiscated from Penguin Logistics would probably fill the Guard Department's parking lot.

So Penguin Logistics usually just had to write a self-criticism and pay a fine.

"We won't impound your vehicle for now. Find some time to take the driver's license test. Your skills look good, so you should be able to take an accelerated exam and get your license the same day."

"Huh? There's something like that?"

"It was set up specifically because of Penguin Logistics."

As she said this, Ch'en helplessly rubbed her brow. If Penguin Logistics members didn't have their licenses revoked faster than they could earn them, the Guard Department wouldn't have needed to do this. But Emperor and Wei Yenwu had a partnership, so they could only give them special treatment without crossing moral boundaries.

"By the way, how is your recovery going?"

"Ah, no problems. I'm very healthy. Thank you, big sister, for saving me."

Exusiai and Texas had already told Mizuki how he had been discovered and rescued. In a sense, Ch'en could also be considered his savior. Mizuki had originally wanted to find an opportunity to thank her privately.

"You don't need to thank me. Anyone with even a shred of conscience couldn't have stood by and done nothing."

Ch'en waved it off without caring, but she stared at Mizuki in puzzlement. After dealing with Exusiai and the others for so many years, she naturally knew what they were capable of and what their Originium Arts were like. That large-scale disruption of people's thoughts could only have been Mizuki's doing. Fortunately, it hadn't caused too much trouble for traffic.

"So, you didn't know that was your Originium Arts either?"

"I didn't know, but I can feel that it really is my ability. It seems to happen whenever I get deeply absorbed in doing something."

Like cooking that morning. But when Texas had interrupted him, Mizuki hadn't carefully examined his ability. It was only after driving today that he realized something was wrong.

Whenever he focused on something, he seemed to inadvertently affect his surroundings. It was no longer mere mental interference. It was more like some kind of hypnosis that altered common sense.

A bizarre ability, coupled with terrifying regenerative powers. Ch'en still remembered that when she had first found Mizuki, he hadn't even had a heartbeat or pulse. Every bone in his body had been shattered. She had been so furious that she had nearly drawn her sword and cut down everyone from Penguin Logistics on the spot.

Regarding that incident, Ch'en actually wanted to apologize to Mizuki instead. She hadn't been able to catch the real culprit. Wei Yenwu and Emperor definitely knew something, but those two old foxes had reached some sort of agreement.

"You should head back first. Sigh, after joining Penguin Logistics, we'll probably have plenty of dealings in the future. Remember to bring the self-criticism over within a week."

Ch'en had no intention of making things difficult for Mizuki. She barely even lectured him. If Exusiai had been sitting here instead, she wouldn't have been allowed to leave without being lectured for several hours.

Meanwhile, in the Guard Department lobby, Exusiai, Texas, and the others were waiting for Mizuki to come out. Exusiai was the most restless one. It was Mizuki's first day at work, and he was already getting a record at the Guard Department. What if he developed some complaints about the job?

She was trying to treat Mizuki as one of her own now, so naturally she was more nervous than Texas and the others.

Texas was quite sure that Ch'en wouldn't do anything to Mizuki. Though she was serious and upright, she wasn't inflexible. Mizuki hadn't done anything heinous, either.

More than that, Texas was concerned about what had happened that morning. Mizuki's Originium Arts had been rather unexpected. Interfering with other people's consciousness across such a large area was utterly unreasonable.

"Oh no, Texas, what if Mizuki wants to change jobs?"

"Why are you panicking? Afraid he'll run off and no one else will find you attractive?"

Croissant couldn't help teasing her, only to see Exusiai's gaze turn unfriendly. She decisively covered her mouth. That unequal treaty was still in effect, after all.

But now, aside from Exusiai herself, her three good sisters had all noticed something off about her. She cared about Mizuki a little too much.

"It feels strangely familiar. The day Exusiai kissed Mizuki, it was like the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty—except the genders were reversed."

"Now that you mention it, that's true."

"It really is."

Listening to the three of them chime in one after another, Exusiai simply kept quiet. It wasn't as if she could pull out a gun and start shooting inside the Guard Department.

However, seeing the pink at the roots of her ears, Texas, Croissant, and Sora exchanged glances and nodded in unison. Sure enough, there had to be something fishy going on!

Could the two of them have some secret no one knew about? Impossible. They had only known each other for a few days, and everyone had been together the whole time. Could it really be love at first sight?

"Exusiai, um..."

"Mizuki!"

Sora hesitated, about to ask Exusiai how she felt about Mizuki, when she saw Exusiai leap up and run toward him.

Well, who would believe there was nothing between those two now? At least the three of them didn't.

"Are you okay? Officer Ch'en let you out so soon. Did she lecture you?"

"Not really. Thanks for worrying about me, A-Neng."

Having someone constantly care about him was something worth being happy about. On top of that, Ch'en hadn't pursued his responsibility too harshly, so Mizuki was in a fairly good mood now. Still, he wasn't completely free of pressure.

"Um... A-Neng."

"What is it?"

Seeing that Mizuki was still in one piece, Exusiai relaxed somewhat. But for some reason, his shy, embarrassed expression made her heart flutter.

Mizuki was sunny and guileless. Because of that, when he showed a shyness that didn't match his usual self, it gave off an entirely different feeling. It didn't seem affected at all. It just seemed cute.

"Can I... still work at Penguin Logistics? I heard having a record makes it hard to find work."

"Pfft."

Seeing Mizuki's expression, Exusiai had thought he was going to leave Penguin Logistics. Her heart had nearly leaped into her throat. She hadn't expected him to be worried about that, and she couldn't help laughing.

"Don't worry!"

Her tension melting away into relief, Exusiai directly opened her arms and hugged Mizuki. He instinctively hugged her back.

"If you don't visit the Guard Department a few more times, you'd be embarrassed to call yourself a Penguin Logistics employee. As long as you don't dislike us, it'll be fine. Though even if you do dislike us, it's too late now."

"Now that you have a record at the Guard Department, no one but Penguin Logistics will want you. Didn't expect that, did you? This was my plan all along!"

Listening to Exusiai, Mizuki somehow heard a trace of nervousness in her voice. Once Exusiai came back to herself, she realized they were standing a little too close. But Mizuki was hugging her too, making it awkward for her to let go.

"How sly."

Mizuki lightly brushed his cheek against Exusiai's face, then took the initiative to release her. The smile on his face was mischievous, yet as clean as water, making him impossible to dislike.

"So I've taken the bait."

Looking at Mizuki like that, Exusiai's heartbeat steadied instead. She didn't know why, but the more she looked at him, the more she liked him. She gave him a bright smile.

"Then you won't be able to get away."

Mizuki Is Suitable as a Partner