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<hr class="wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color is-style-wide">\n{Chapter 6} The Night Before the Battle\n
Part I\n
ăHiroto, Mizuho, and Marion were going over the framework of their plan for the next time they were attacked.\n
âWill the enemy be here during our next move?â\n
ăMarion then, made tea for everyone again and sat down at the table. And as Mizuho sipped from her teacup, she answered calmly.\n
âIf this is the pattern weâve seen so far, they will definitely come. And the enemy wonât have much time, either.â\n
ââŚâŚ Yes, thatâs true. But what were the enemies thinking until now?â\n
ăMarion had a serious expression as she wrapped her hands around her teacup.\n
âAs Mizuho-san said, the enemy assassins should not have that much time. General Mathewâs speech at the UN is less than a week away. It would not be surprising if they attacked this hotel, and not just when he was on the move. And weâve been talking about this for a while now, but the way weâre fighting makes me question the seriousness of this. âŚâŚâ\n
ăMizuho and Hiroto think again about the inexplicable movements of the enemy pointed out by Marion.\n
âItâs like a âŚâŚ safety-first approach to fighting. Iâm not sure why theyâre taking so long with the deadline for the assassination looming.ăAt first, I thought they were being cautious when they found out we had been sent. But to think that they were this good and that there were more than a single ability users just like us, âŚâŚâ\n
ăHiroto also thought that was odd from the moment he heard from the two of them.\n
ăHe put his hand on his chin and considered a few possibilities.\n
âIt could mean that they are âŚâŚ waiting for something.â\n
ăMizuho and Marion frowned at Hirotoâs statement.\n
âWhat do you mean by that?ăDomori Hiroto.â\n
âWell, I donât know, but from what the two of you have said, that sounds like a way of fighting to stall for time. Maybe this idea is mostly correct. That narrows it down to a couple of reasons why this formidable foe would do it, while not having much time to spare.â\n
âMaybeâŚâŚ, is that it?ăHiroto-san.â\n
âYes, the first point is a tactical reason. The second point is, of course, a non-tactical reason. And the third point, which is the least likely, is âŚâŚ.â\n
âExplain your idea in detail, Domori Hiroto.â\n
ăMizuho was curious to hear Hirotoâs thoughts. When they first met, she would not have even considered consulting a Rank D, Hirotoâs words. But now, she felt firsthand that this boyâs judgment of the situation was beyond her own. And for some reason, she could listen to this boyâs words honestly.\n
ăMarion, who had been with Mizuho for a while now, was surprised by Mizuhoâs attitude.\n
ăMarion knew that Mizuho would only accept someone if she approved of them. And yet, she seemed to rely on this boy who had just arrived today and whose name she didnât even remember.\n
ăWhat was more surprising to Marion was that Mizuhoâs attitude towards him made her feel impatient, but at the same time satisfied and happy that he had been accepted,âŚâŚ.\n
ăSo, Marion stared at Hiroto again.\n
âUmm, the first point is that they have a surefire way to kill the target, and they are prepared for it or have the situation set up. I think itâs normal to assume this in this situation.â\n
ăMizuho and Marion nodded and listened silently as if to urge him to continue.\n
âThe second point is separate from tactics. Isnât it possible that the problem is related to the content of this request?â\n
ăMizuho and Marion tilted their heads. They couldnât really imagine the circumstances of what Hiroto was saying.\n
âWhat would that be, for example?ăHiroto-san.â\n
âUmm. The other party is a freelancer ability user, right?ăIn other words, I think they are like mercenaries. Those people usually have disputes about the request fee. Well, to put it simply, most of them get into trouble with the client because they want to raise the fee. In the case of this request, although they accepted the request, two people with Rank A abilities were assigned to escort the target. They might say, this is not what we heard, this is different. If you want to continue the request, you have to raise the fee. âŚâŚâ\n
âI see. That sounds reasonable to me.â\n
âOf course, you need to be a very well-known mercenary or have a skill that everyone recognizes to be able to get the job done, but this time, completion time is limited. Itâs also very likely that the hired help will look at the clientâs feet and renegotiate. Because it would be tough to hire other assassins with high capabilities now.â\n
ăMizuho folded her arms with a mixture of dismay and annoyance at what Hiroto said.\n
âWell âŚâŚ, those are some of the ability users. Itâs a long way to go for the agencyâs goal of being recognized by the public.â\n
âAbout that~, well, I think this is not limited to ability users.â\n
âWell, Hiroto-san. Whatâs the third point?â\n
âYeah, well, I think this is one of the less likely ones, but âŚâŚ. But if the ability users who received the request are not motivated, to begin withâŚâ\n
âEh?â\n
âHuh?ăWhatâs that?â\n
âWell, it happens sometimes, you know. To be frank, the hired person is not interested in the clientâs feelings. Mercenaries vary from the faithful to the money-obsessed to those who have other goals. Itâs unlikely, but in the case of this enemy, if they came here because their goals and requests seemed to match, they would disappear on the spot if their goals could be achieved without a request. At any rate, letâs give it a try.â\n
ăMizuho and Marion looked at each other with an indescribably bitter expression.\n
ăIf itâs true then they would look like fools for taking it seriously.\n
âBut letâs pay attention to the first point this time. Because this is the most realistic point that we need to pay attention to. Things might get dangerous for us if we donât pay attention to it. Of course, Iâll work as hard as I can. So, leave it to me to do what I can, Shitenji-san and Marion-san.â\n
ăHiroto smiled at Mizuho and Marion and said with enthusiasm.\n
âAwawa!â\n
âAuu!â\n
ăThe two of them stretched their backs as they were taken by surprise by Hirotoâs smile.\n
ăThey both felt as if something came into their minds for a moment. So suddenly, their heartbeats jumped.\n
âHey, âŚâŚ?ăWhatâs wrong?ăBoth of you have red faces again âŚâŚâ\n
âItâs nothing!â\n
âI-Itâs nothing!â\n
ăHiroto had a feeling that something like this had happened earlier, but with the two of them being so spirited, he decided not to mention it any further.\n
(This kind of thing happens to Matsuri-chan too âŚâŚ. In these situations, if I try to get too deep into the matter, they usually get mad at me. Girls are kind of complicated, I guess.)\n
ăAfter that, Mizuho suggested that Hiroto and the others give each other their opinions on anything they noticed, even if it was something trivial, and they nodded at each other.\n
ăAfter a while, the three of them were confirming the details of the strategy for the next battle, when there was a knock on the door of the room where Hiroto and his colleagues were.\n
ăMizuho replied , âCome in,â and the door opened, revealing a stately figure in a high-ranking military uniform standing there, with Teintan, the captain of the convoy who had just escorted Hiroto, standing behind him.\n
âGeneral Mathew!â\n
ăMizuho stood up at the appearance of her client, and Hiroto and Marion followed suit.\n
âAh, donât mind me. Just make yourself comfortable. Sorry that the meeting took so long. I heard that a new escort has arrived from the agency, so I came to say hello.â\n
âThat, I was the one who asked for you. I apologize for the inconvenience.â\n
ăMizuho responded politely, and Marion bowed, and Hiroto also followed hurriedly. Normally, she doesnât show this kind of pretense, but Mizuho is very much like a young lady from a great family.\n
âNo, I am the one who forced the agency to send an escort. I think itâs only fair to visit first. And you?ăYou are the new escort, I assume?â\n
ăMathew smiled at Hiroto. And as he speaks to Hiroto, his brown face wrinkled under the sun. Mathew was said to be in his mid-fifties, but in reality, he looked much younger, and his expression gave the impression of an experienced scholar.\n
âAh, yes. My name is Domori Hiroto. I will do my best to escort you, so I look forward to working with you.â\n
âSuch a young boy like you is âŚâŚ. I was surprised when they came, but it seems that there are many talented young people in the agency. I look forward to working with you from here as well.â\n
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><noscript></noscript></figure>\nSaying that Mathew put his hand out in front of him and Hiroto hurriedly held it and shook his hand.\n
ăAlthough he has the appearance of a scholar, he still has the rugged hands of a soldier, and Hiroto can sense from Mathew the unique atmosphere of a person who has gone through many hard times.\n
âLetâs talk for a while. Just for a little while is fine, right?â\n
Mathew looked back at Teintan, who looked at his watch and nodded lightly.\n
ăEveryone took their seats, with only Teintan standing still behind Mathew.\n
âPart I endâ\n
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