Ke Xue: I picked up a bottle of sherry at the beginning.

Gusts of cold air rushed out of the paper bag handed over by Sato Miwako.

"What's in this bag? It looks very cold."

"Yeah, it's ice cream. It even has dry ice in it."

"Why is it such a big bag?"

"Yes, it's the Hagenmeyer ice cream series, the first of its kind in Japan. I bought three of each of the twelve flavors..."

“Why buy so much?”

"Inspector Yakushiji is treating us to a meal."

"She's so kind?"

"I just want the red bean flavor."

A middle-aged man's voice sounded from the opposite direction of Sato Miwako - it was Inspector Megure.

"What a grand spectacle! The media is really capable of this."

"Inspector Megure, do you know what's going on?"

"Well, it seems like the Foreign Minister suddenly showed up at the Metropolitan Police Department."

"The Foreign Minister, is he the next Prime Minister candidate?"

　Jiuqiwuliuerbabasiyi "Hey, make way, make way!"

With a cry of "Wow", many people, probably shocked by the cold air of ice cream and dry ice, immediately made way for a thin passage.

Not only were there members of the media, but the escorting police officers were also surrounding us. We had to force our way through quite a few of them, and finally managed to break free.

To avoid the crowded elevator, we decided to take the stairs to the fifth floor. Thanks to the air conditioning, but Inspector Megure said we should just walk slowly from now on.

"Hey, Quan Yi, why are you so flustered? Are you being chased for debt?"

Shiraizumi's boss, Ryoko, crossed her legs in a thin, pearl-colored suit with an excessively short skirt, showcasing the graceful lines of her legs. While the position of Superintendent of Police didn't require such qualifications, she was, after all, a radiant beauty, like a rainbow enveloping her.

"No. I heard the Foreign Minister is here."

"Why don't I remember asking him to come?"

"Even if you hadn't called me, I would have come."

With a bitter sigh, a man who was just beginning to get older came into the Criminal Division office - a face that could be seen on TV and in newspapers every day.

He was of medium height and somewhat thin. Though he came from one of Japan's few prominent families, he had the haggard features of a country fishmonger... no, rather, a very approachable look. His suit, with its overly wide shoulders, didn't look particularly flattering on him, but it must have been a high-end brand. Behind the Foreign Minister, a disheveled Deputy Superintendent of Police and someone who appeared to be from the Minister's official residence gathered in a group.

"Um, can I sit down and talk?"

"Please come in, please sit over there."

"Sorry, please step back first."

The Foreign Minister said this, and those who were making trouble all reluctantly withdrew. Shiraizumi remained motionless. The Minister's already furrowed brows twisted into a further arc:

"I say, you should step down too."

"You're not my boss."

Bai Quanyi replied coldly.

"you--"

The Foreign Minister did not expect the other party to dare to speak to him like this and was speechless for a moment.

"This guy is mine, just speak your mind."

Ryoko's tone was equally cold.

The Foreign Minister had no choice but to ignore Shiraizumi Masu and turn his gaze directly to Ryoko:

"Oh, I've heard Yakushiji-kun talk about you. It's not exactly our first meeting, is it?"

"I am Yakushiji."

"I mean your father."

Ryoko's father, Yakushiji Koki, was once a high-ranking official in the National Police Agency and is now the owner and president of JACES, Asia's largest security company. His connections in the financial, political, and government circles are as tangled as the webs of a venomous spider's lair, so it's only natural that he knows the Foreign Minister.

"Ah, you're truly an unprecedented beauty. But, Yakushiji-kun said you have a tendency to be a bit of a problem child..."

"I actually trust that guy, but he actually said that. I must teach him a lesson!"

"'That guy'... If you call your father that, the teachers at the re-education meeting will go crazy."

"That's nothing. He's just a gene transporter."

"T-T-T...there's even such a saying."

The Foreign Minister seemed to have finally understood that trying to upset the other party with gossip was an impossible task.

"Actually, Yakushiji, I came here because I have a request for you..."

It seems that the Foreign Minister did not get any more important and necessary information from Ryoko's father - you know, the reward for asking her for help is definitely not low.

"Recently, or to be more precise, next Monday, His Royal Highness Prince Gadja of the Kingdom of Mewat will be coming to Japan. His Royal Highness is the second son of King Vikram II and the Minister of Home Affairs. He is a staunch pro-Japanese."

The Foreign Minister continued the conversation while glancing at Ryoko's expression.

"Also, Prince Gadja is a huge fan of Zenad Park. He must take this opportunity to have a good time in Zenad Park Tokyo."

"Zenard Land Tokyo? It's not even on the map of Tokyo. Who knows where the hell it is?"

Ryoko grumbled in a low-level manner, shrugged, and glanced at me.

On the east coast of Tokyo Bay, in western Chiba Prefecture, there is a huge theme park called Zenad Land.

"His Royal Highness wants to use the 'Cinderella Magic' and book the entire place."

According to the Foreign Minister, the so-called "Cinderella Magic" is to take over the entire theme park from 8 pm to 12 am. The name apparently comes from the fact that Cinderella's magic disappears at midnight.

Even if it's just four hours, to monopolize this huge amusement park, it would cost at least 100 million yen - this is estimated based on 20,000 visitors with a ticket price of 5000 yen per person.

"Oh, that's so cheap."

The beautiful witch is talking nonsense again.

"A mere 100 million yen is just the basic entrance fee, right? There have to be some extra fees. But for the Kingdom of Mewat, it's a drop in the bucket. Why just book it for one night? We can book it for years."

The Foreign Minister seemed to have bitten a dozen bedbugs at once:

"I can't do that."

"Oh, why?"

There was a certain kind of evil excitement glittering in Ryoko's voice.

"Take a guess."

"Can't guess."

"I really can't guess?"

"Absolutely, totally, not at all."

"From next Monday to Saturday, that is, during Prince Gadega's stay in Japan, someone has booked the entire place."

"Oh, that's a coincidence."

"What a coincidence! Some people are deliberately trying to cause trouble during Prince Gadjia's visit!"

"Oh my, oh my, it's true, that one."

Ryoko exclaimed in surprise - the combination of "lying without blushing or being nervous" and "knowing it very well", and then adding "shameless" was probably the sound she made when she exclaimed.

"Then who is causing such trouble?"

"That's you!"

“It’s me.”

Ryoko laughed like a silver bell.

"Oh, now that I remember, I was thinking of renting a small amusement park. Turns out it was Zenad Paradise. It just so happened to coincide with Prince Gadega's visit to Japan... It's a twist of fate, not anyone's ill will."

It was clearly full of malicious intent.

"Don't worry about fate. Just give Prince Gadja the right to use it for one night."

"Oh my! Is the government using state power to infringe upon individual rights? Ah, this is terrifying! When did Japan become a dictatorship like North Korea, one that disregards human rights?"

"No, no, I'm not forcing you. I'm asking for your help. After all, you're a civil servant of Japan. You wouldn't want the relationship between Japan and its allies to deteriorate, right?"

"It doesn't matter even if it gets worse."

The Foreign Minister picked up the cup from the coffee table, took a sip of water, curled his lips and said, "What kind of water is this? It seems very bitter."

"Ah, this is the 'Sweet Talk' water, reserved for ministers. It's ten thousand yen a bottle. Drinking it cold will affect its effectiveness, but I'm giving it to you anyway."

"Oh, yeah..."

It's really a lie, it's obviously tap water.

Sato Miwako had asked her before: "Do you want to treat the Minister to ice cream as well?"

Ryoko said coldly, "That's such a waste! Giving him tap water is too much!"

Bai Quanyi heard it clearly.

"Well, now that I mention it, I feel much more refreshed after drinking this water. Ah, how's that matter?"

"I see."

"Oh, so what?"

"Alright, I'll give you the right to use it for one night, for your honor, Minister."

"Yes, really? Thank you very much. Speaking of which, this matter is a state secret. Don't mention it to outsiders."

The minister glanced at me.

"Please let him enjoy the tour with peace of mind. In the police world, career officers have complete control over non-career officers."

The Foreign Minister was still staring at Ryoko and me with a frown on his face. I could tell he was trying to test me: "Can you keep your eyesight clear?"

"Oh, it's already this late."

The Foreign Minister glanced at his glittering golden watch with a pretentious air: "I have to go back. I'm a very busy man, and I have to show up even in places I don't want to go..."

"I understand."

"Well, I'll leave the Zenad Paradise matter to you. If you don't keep your promise, you can't be considered a good Japanese."

"Don't worry. This beautiful country, these excellent politicians, these brilliant bureaucrats—these are the very pride of Japan."

"Then it all depends on you."

The Foreign Minister left, striding with the kind of impressive stride a construction robot often seen in anime.

As soon as the door closed and the Foreign Minister's shadow disappeared, Ryoko tutted her words.

"Idiot man, I'll make him suffer in the next few days. And those little thieves in Zenad Paradise, I will never let them off!"

"What are you angry about, servant?"

"Those guys at Zenad Paradise actually broke their confidentiality obligations and so casually leaked my name. I'm not just a customer, I'm also a shareholder!"

"There's nothing we can do. The government has stepped in."

"I just hate their fawning over the government. But, never mind, I'll teach them a lesson about the fate of companies that betray their shareholders in a capitalist society."

"Want to take revenge on them?"

"It's execution!"

Beautiful Boss and Ice Cream

At this moment, there was a sudden knock on the door, and Sato Miwako walked in with two cups of ice cream, two spoons, and some documents on a tray.

"Well... Minister, I have collected information on the history, politics, and economy of the Kingdom of Mewat."

"You're such a good girl, Satou Miwako. You're nothing like that useless fellow. Do you want a reward?"

"Can I have coffee flavored ice cream?"

"Yes, please."