Damn, I Ran Into the Herrscher of Color

Raikou Ryoma's expression instantly became much more colorful.

Back then, he had only been forced to dance at gunpoint by an African uncle and attacked by Mount Emei monkeys!!

How was there even some bizarre setting about becoming Solomon II?!

"I'm not, I didn't, don't make things up!"

Raikou Ryoma hurriedly denied it.

Very good. Right now, he was only arguing that he had never done those bizarre things. It looked like he believed you were Mei's friend.

A faint smile appeared on Russell's face as well.

"Since Uncle Raikou believes me, you should provide some support too, right?"

Raikou Ryoma fell silent for a while.

In his worldview, the detestable unit was Siegfried.

The guy before him looked unbelievably punchable, possessing at least ten stages of Siegfried Power.

But, from the looks of things, this guy might indeed have a good relationship with Mei.

So—

"I'll arrange a plane for you."

Though he did not understand what Russell was up to, the intelligence-gathering and dream-entering abilities this guy had displayed were truly formidable.

Going to Vienna undoubtedly meant seeking out Schicksal.

Though he did not know what Russell had that could guarantee Schicksal's willingness to intervene in Changkong City, since he was doing this, he must have had his reasons. As someone who did not understand the situation, Raikou Ryoma had better not interfere recklessly.

"Ah, who said anything about wanting a plane?"

Russell was instead stunned by this, asking as though he had encountered something utterly strange.

Raikou Ryoma was stunned too.

Didn't you say you were going to Vienna? Why didn't you want a plane now?

The young man lightly cleared his throat, then, under Raikou Ryoma's nearly shocked gaze, pulled a list of goods from his pocket.

"Although friends should not stand on ceremony, I have been a little short on funds lately."

The young man's expression was awkward and a little bashful, but the hand extending the bill was as steady as a doctor at a top-tier hospital.

"Uncle Dragon Sniper, could you provide some support?"

Chapter 21: Damn, I Ran Into the Herrscher of Color

Raikou Ryoma was a very wealthy man.

One could even say he was absurdly wealthy.

Looking at the supply list in his hands, Russell felt that if his story were a novel, the rest of it could probably be seen through at a glance.

With Raikou Ryoma's sponsorship, Russell drifted through various clubs. One day, utterly exhausted, he closed his eyes.

The end.

Applause.

Applause my ass!

Teacher Dake hasn't died yet! As long as she isn't dead, Raikou Ryoma is nothing! And you're still a poor mutt who isn't even qualified to be denounced!

The Prompt Device's voice forcibly stretched the book out.

Poor mutt.

Russell sighed. Everything he had done so far had really been for the sake of escaping that label.

After all, as a nobleman and mine owner, being acknowledged by an organization like the Reunion Movement...

That was more than merely miserable.

Tsk—

Russell made an irritated sound.

He prepared to find somewhere to leave his body.

But before doing that, he still had to get something to eat—the body would keep functioning while he was out.

Russell looked around.

Searching for a suitable restaurant, perhaps by fate, he found a rather nice-looking café right beside him.

Having a sandwich and a cup of coffee here would be quite nice.

He found a secluded seat and sat down, quietly waiting.

Soon enough, a server came over.

"Sir, what would you like to drink?"

The tone was exceptionally elegant, carrying a faint London accent.

Wait?

A London accent?

Russell seemed to realize that something was off.

He raised his head. In his field of vision, a beautiful woman stood beside him.

She had short ash-blond hair and wine-red eyes.

She wore a white long dress patterned with gray roses and yellow decorations, a black apron trimmed in white, and a bow tied behind her back.

The corners of her lips curved faintly upward, while a trace of coquettish charm lingered at the corners of her eyes.

Holy shit, what kind of fucking luck is this?

Even the Prompt Device seemed startled by the woman.

Rita, one of Schicksal's three S-rank Valkyries, spent most of her time traveling with the strongest Valkyrie, The Penguin.

Her hobby was being a maid.

Working part-time at a café in her free time might have been a source of enjoyment for her.

Russell's method for completing the mission was to report The Penguin to the authorities.

The most time-consuming part of that was finding a certain Penguin in a place as vast as Vienna.

Yet Russell had directly run into The Penguin's accessory!

You went out for a meal and directly ran into the big Penguin's accessory? Damn it, could you be a European Emperor?

Wait, if your luck is really this good, then three days should be more than enough... Didn't Raikou Ryoma get beaten up for nothing?

Then the Prompt Device seemed to realize a serious problem as well.

"Ah... don't bring up things that are bad for group unity. How was I supposed to know that the moment I arrived in Vienna, I'd run into the Herrscher of Color?"

Russell communicated with the Prompt Device in his mind without expression.

Then he looked toward the beautiful woman beside him, his eyes flickering slightly.

"Besides... this may not necessarily be a good thing."

"Excuse me, what would you like to drink?"

The maid, unaware of Russell's conversation with the Prompt Device, smiled faintly, though her smile held a trace of distress.

"If you keep ignoring me, I'll be very sad."

"How about beer? Vienna beer is world-famous."

Under the maid's gaze, Russell instead smiled.

The beautiful maid blinked, as though she had encountered some strange person, then burst into laughter.

"Sir, you should know that mentioning that madman in Germany is against the law."

"I remember German law only prohibits art students from drinking, not engineering students from drinking beer."

Russell blinked and made up an entirely new German law.

"I studied law, so it's fine."

"Law isn't engineering."

Hearing that utterly nonsensical statement, the beautiful girl burst into laughter. Her smile was beautiful, like shifting light dancing upon water.

"Ah, isn't it?"

A faint helplessness appeared on Russell's face as well.

"Beautiful miss, it seems you have discovered that I only graduated from elementary school."

That statement made the girl across from him burst out laughing.

She pointed at his coat. The material tag inside the coat, which clearly did not suit Vienna's current climate, was written in Russian.

"An East Asian appearance, recently visited Russia, understands German—I think the odds of you having received very little education are not high."

"Unfortunately, I am one of the ones who slipped through the net of Nine-Year Compulsory Education."

Russell spoke solemnly.

"Congratulations. You met one today."

"I am the once-in-a-millennium, destiny-chosen illiterate!"

His words made even the servers by the counter laugh.

"You're truly interesting."

"How about treating me to a cup of coffee?"

The maid set down the tray in her hands and sat across from Russell. She watched him with wine-red eyes carrying an ambiguous tenderness, like poisoned wine that made the heart of anyone who drank it race.

"Ah, that really is unfortunate. I only brought enough money for beer."

Russell considered it for a moment, then spoke seriously.

"If I treat you to coffee, I won't be able to drink beer later. How about you treat me to a cup instead?"

"Ah, is that so?"

The maid seemed slightly troubled.

Then she quickly clapped her hands, and her beautiful eyes seemed to light up.

"Then I'll treat you to a cup."

"You won't refuse, will you?"

The maid asked with a smile.

"That depends on how skilled you are at making coffee, miss."

Russell's remark remained as unromantic as ever.

"I do have a little experience with coffee."

The beautiful woman smiled, then walked toward the back kitchen. Before long, she returned carrying a cup of coffee.

Russell looked at the coffee cup. Inside was a standard café au lait.

It was made by pouring a cup of espresso and a large cup of hot milk into the cup at the same time, then placing two spoonfuls of whipped cream on the surface. Paired with a croissant, it made for a simple and delightful breakfast or afternoon tea.

"Kid, Rita is a beauty famous all around here. You'd better drink every last drop."

"Otherwise, I'll spread the word that Rita was so good to you, only for you to reject her... then Rita's admirers will block you in an alley."

At the counter, a relatively ordinary-looking server teased Russell.

Russell accepted the coffee cup.

As the coffee appeared, new information appeared on the Prompt Device.