It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

Bai Lin glanced at the surrounding houses and even more at the cherry blossom trees. Back then, cherry blossoms were a symbol of Qianhong.

However, Bai Lin had no way to deal with the cultural ambiguity. She could only slightly, just slightly, look at all these things through tinted glasses, and as a person from a culturally rich country, she gave them a contemptuous smile.

The expression beneath the mask couldn't be seen clearly, so Bai Lin continued to follow behind the group of warriors dressed as gate guards. However, she raised her head slightly and cast her gaze upwards.

The doll-like woman's brows suddenly furrowed, her entire expression darkening. The pipe in her hand snapped instantly. Her ferocious appearance instantly made her look like a demon, making it difficult for anyone to approach her.

After a while, the maid standing behind the woman came up tremblingly and asked,

"Lady Hanane, are you okay?"

The woman called Hanane leaned forward, her hands resting on the armrests, her eyes fixed on the figure of a black-armored knight below. After a while, she slowly stood up, gracefully brushed her hair with one hand, and took the other pipe handed to her by the maid with the other hand.

She wore the same expression as before, but her eyes were filled with a complex complexion. Although Bai Lin's eyes only briefly met with the girl called Hana, Hana knew in her heart that she was not mistaken.

That so-called Holy Son, that adventurer, had just looked at me with contempt? No, that contempt wasn't directed just at me, but at—

Thinking of this, Hanako clenched her fist while holding the railing with her left hand. With the other hand, she lifted the pipe and fiercely poured a mouthful of harmful gas into her chest. Finally, the light fragrance took away the remaining malice on her face. Hanako said slowly in her lovely voice as clear as a silver bell,

"He who comes has bad intentions."

Bai Lin was led into the entrance hall and, as she had expected, was asked to bathe and change clothes. Soon, a maid dressed in Japanese clothes led Bai Lin to change into tabi and walk through a long wooden corridor to the bathroom.

Compared to Qianhong's decor, this place seemed less formal, more focused on creating a sense of spiritual intoxication. The softer color scheme, the barrier that evoked the joy of mountains and rivers, and the rich, soothing aroma of incense—every detail highlighted the difference between this place and Qianhong.

It was as if this wasn't such a grand occasion, and compared to the venue at Qianhong's, it might be more relaxing.

To use Bai Lin's words, it really is like a bath center. Of course, this is only in comparison.

Although Bai Lin didn't want to reveal his gender in front of too many people, he was sometimes helpless when he was out. Just as Bai Lin was about to take off his armor, a maid asked,

"Sir, may I help you?"

The aroma of the incense became more pungent, and Bai Lin's cheeks began to heat up slightly. Even the maid's brief words seemed to carry a lot more meaning. However, Bai Lin was naturally not affected by anything. Since she could remove the armor with a single click, she naturally didn't need to bother these two people.

"No, I'm better at this myself—"

Just when Bai Lin was about to refuse, the maid took a step forward. She smiled like a picture, her eyes were full of charm, and she used the right tone to flirt with Bai Lin.

"It's okay, Master Saint. Leave everything to me from now on. I promise you'll feel comfortable afterwards..."

Bai Lin looked at the maid before him. She was beautiful, with a perfect figure, and only slightly older than Bai Lin. For Bai Lin, who preferred older sisters, this was a perfect choice.

The smell, the sight, the hearing, everything was corroding Bai Lin's consciousness. If this continued, no one knew what would happen.

However, Bai Lin, the protagonist of the story, only changed her expression from confusion to indifference. Without saying anything, she took a step back, adjusted her faceplate, and stripped down to her underwear.

"That's good. It's too much trouble for you to take it off."

"Ah? You're a woman?"

The maid acted very surprised, as if she had never thought of this possibility. She glanced towards the door from time to time. Bai Lin acted as if he didn't care at all and said casually,

"Yeah, what's wrong? It's just that normally I'm too conspicuous and would accidentally attract unwanted attention, so I've been wearing armor all the time. But it shouldn't be a problem here. Come on, wash up."

As naturally as possible, the maid began to help Bai Lin remove the last of her clothing and began to serve her. Although this wasn't her first time, Bai Lin was still not used to being served by others. She closed her eyes slightly, trying not to think about it, but to outsiders, she probably enjoyed it all.

"If you keep looking at me, I'll tell everyone. That'll be very disadvantageous to you guys."

Bai Lin suddenly said this, and the gaze on Bai Lin disappeared instantly. The maid who was washing him asked nervously,

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing at all."

Outside the door, a woman called Hanane was holding a pipe and scolding a man in a suit with a strange hairstyle.

"How do you manage to do things without even knowing whether this adventurer is a man or a woman?"

"…I'm sorry, Lady Kanon! But when we went to investigate, adventurers everywhere were absolutely certain that she was a man, and a very mysterious one at that!"

Chapter 360 At the Negotiation Table

A man with a hair style somewhat resembling a Mediterranean style, but with a more bald appearance, was bowing and scraping towards Hanane. Hanane, on the other hand, curled her lips, said, "Useless guy, you can't even figure this out," and left.

"Really? Can't this area get some useful people? If all the subordinates had the same strong execution ability as Qianhong's, I would have become big a long time ago."

Hanane thought so, biting her thumb like a child, her eyes unfocused as she walked towards the main courtyard, looking very anxious. In contrast, Bai Lin, lying in the bathtub, felt an unprecedented sense of comfort and joy.

Trying to seduce...? That's quite fitting for a place like this with a thriving harp industry. But they don't seem to understand I'm a woman... Even if I were a man, I probably wouldn't have made a move.

These guys seem to look down on adventurers, which seems to be a good thing for us.

After the bath, Bai Lin naturally went through the familiar process of dressing up. The maid dressed Bai Lin in a white kimono with red patterns in the shape of fireworks, and the waist was also chosen in bright red.

The workmanship was quite good, but the color looked a bit too garish and scary. Fortunately, it was put on Bai Lin, and she completely controlled it. The outfit also made her eyebrows and eyes reveal a charming figure.

Hmm… Compared to Qianhong's clothes, they do have a unique style. But, like the bathroom, they seem to lack some formality. Or perhaps, it runs counter to Qianhong's culture of modesty. They're completely out in the open, showing no sign of restraint.

But this was quite consistent with the way people in this area behaved. Bai Lin declined the headdress offered by the maid, casually brushing her hair before standing up. This time, she didn't even bother combing her rather unruly bangs, believing this outfit didn't require such a detail.

Bai Lin, wearing a kimono, seemed to fit in quite well with the environment here. After all, there was a certain degree of cultural overlap. Regardless, it wouldn't be as out of place as the armored knight had been before.

After the guard slowly opened a wooden door that opened to both sides, the main house appeared before Bai Lin's eyes. The interior was mainly made of wood, with dark red leather-like walls, revealing an atmosphere of low-key luxury.

The main building, a blend of various architectural styles, features several floral-decorated paper fans, giving it a distinctly local charm. Other than that, the only other distinctive features are the armor and katana ornaments.

"Welcome, Lord Saint, to Sakura. You must have been very tired after such a long journey. Please take a seat."

Standing before Bai Lin was none other than Hanane, the enchanting woman with white hair and crimson eyes, whose words and actions didn't quite match her appearance. Bai Lin's gaze was immediately drawn to the pleasant voice, and he sized the woman up and down.

Honestly, Bai Lin had seen quite a few beauties since arriving in the other world. There was the elf-like charm of Claire, the mysterious beauty Sora, and even Bai Lin herself, not to mention her girlfriend, who had already become a god. However, the woman before him offered Bai Lin a completely new experience.

At first glance, Bai Lin was physically attracted by the beautiful woman's appearance, but when he looked at her tenderness, his nerves became tense. It was like a demon statue standing in front of Bai Lin, suppressing him tightly.

Really... she has no intention of concealing her aura at all. Bai Lin thought so, but he looked at her appearance with even more interest.

But upon closer inspection, wasn't this a young woman? From the frivolous smile on her lips to the challenge hidden in her eyes, everything about her expression was quite deliberate. After all, open hostility is the least frightening. It's like throwing Bai Lin and Xifa into a fair and open arena. Even if the opponent looks formidable, Bai Lin won't be intimidated.

Bai Lin smiled back politely and said,

"Well, let's eat something first. I heard that Sakura's food is pretty good."

Bai Lin's words were quite elegant and easygoing, as she was expressing her admiration from the bottom of her heart. It wasn't because Bai Lin preferred Sakura's cuisine, but because she was interested in this state-banquet-level food.

No matter how you think about it, it should be able to catch up with the current level, right?

Born and raised in a coastal area, Bai Lin didn't like fish. The reason was simple: she was too lazy to eat fish bones. However, Sakura's cuisine featured many boneless dishes, and the flavor left a lasting impression on Bai Lin. After arriving in this world, she wanted to try some.

"It would be great if you like it."

At the dinner, there were not only Bai Lin and Hana, but also many guests from all over the country, who seemed to have come with the intention of notarizing. Although there were other women, Bai Lin and Hana were the only two who could be called beautiful girls.

Bai Lin devoured the sumptuous meal, quickly devouring bowl after bowl of rice, a stark contrast to the surrounding atmosphere. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate good food, but as an adventurer, she always wanted to finish her meal quickly and get down to business.

What's more, the dishes here don't seem to be as rich as those in the real world... It feels very poor. Bai Lin thinks that the ones cooked by Long Yuesi are much better.

On the other side of the dinner table, Hanane was looking at Bai Lin strangely, as if she was looking at something weird.

This guy... is he a starving ghost? He eats quickly, doesn't care about his appearance, and has absolutely no table manners. What's going on?

Watching Bai Lin eat, Hana was even more convinced of Bai Lin's identity as an idiot adventurer. But in a trance, she caught a glimpse of Bai Lin's face smiling at her from behind the bowl, which made Hana feel furious.

...This adventurer keeps provoking me. Does he think I can't see clearly, or what does he mean?

If Bai Lin could hear her inner voice, he would probably reply in his heart: What's the point of provoking her? I just want to make you anxious.

Indeed, Bai Lin had rushed in like a locomotive since arriving at Qianhong. Her fundamental purpose was to completely disrupt the opponent's rhythm and affect the mentality of these people who had done something wrong.

Although the political leaders have been specially tempered and will not be affected by trivial matters, Bai Lin never thought of conquering the other party with conventional means.

Chapter 361 After the Dinner Table

In terms of attitude and words, one must be calm and generous, exerting pressure with the power of a powerful force. And in terms of words, every word must strike at the heart, and even more so, external factors must be used to disrupt their position.

For this reason, even though Bai Lin only had a day to prepare, she was brimming with confidence. Because once at the negotiation table, any lack of confidence you have will become a barrier to the other party's success. No matter what, you can't lose even a little bit of momentum.

What's more, Bai Lin is on the right side, which makes her feel more peaceful.

After the meal, Hua Yin arranged for the envoys to wait in the hall, and then turned to Bai Lin and said,

"Ms. Bai Lin, please follow me."

Bai Lin stood up from her seat calmly. She had finished her meal a while ago and her body had been well rested. She was now full of energy. Although her clothes were restrictive, she was fully prepared to roll up her sleeves and get to work.

You can start a war at any time!

Following Hanane to the back room, they walked around a long corridor and arrived at a wooden courtyard. Although much smaller than the "Prime Minister's Residence" outside, it looked well-furnished. It looked like an ordinary courtyard with some expensive interior decorations.

The two guards opened the door, and Bai Lin followed behind Hana Yin and walked in. Although it was daytime, the light shining through the pale yellow windows slightly dimmed the light, increasing the tension in the atmosphere.

The two of them stood conscientiously in the middle of the room, on opposite sides of a square table. The guard lit a candle on the table, placed two cups of tea, and then left.

To the left of each of them lay a sheathed katana, seemingly placed there as a ceremonial object, perhaps a unique cultural feature of theirs. Yet, it also subtly created a sense of tit-for-tat.

Hanane smiled slightly, stretched out a hand, and said to Bai Lin in a very warm tone,

"Ms. Bai Lin, please."

Bai Lin sat down cross-legged, while Hanako on the opposite side knelt down in a very casual manner. At this time, Bai Lin slapped his head and said in surprise,

"Oh no, I almost forgot about this. I remember you Sakura people seemed to like kneeling a lot, right? Isn't it bad for you to be the only one kneeling?"

Bai Lin, like a child who had made a mistake, immediately corrected his sitting posture. Although these words were indeed extremely deliberate, they could still give the other person a certain degree of excitement. As expected, Hanako's eyes flashed with anger for a moment.

"Of course not. Miss Bai Lin, you can sit however you want. It's just a habit."

"It's okay, when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Bai Lin casually waved his hand, as if he was really just being insensitive. Originally, Bai Lin wanted to add something like "So you guys are used to kneeling?", but that would have made the atmosphere of the negotiation a little too radical, so Bai Lin gave up.

We have to push forward a little further and act a little more mean.

Hanane sat upright, maintaining a very professional and calm expression, and said to Bai Lin,

"Well, let me introduce myself again. My name is Yamashita Kanon, and I'm the Prime Minister of the Sakura region. I've heard rumors from Chihong that our political institutions are shielding Rakutenka, so I'd like to use this conversation with Miss Shiraki to prove our innocence."

It's a very simple narrative, but simplicity also means there are no flaws to be found. Bai Lin thought so in his heart.

In that case, how about I try to create a loophole?

"As for my name, you already know it. It's Bai Lin. I'm just an adventurer. But it's precisely because of this that I, as a helpless adventurer with credibility, can serve as a bridge between the two places in a fair and impartial manner. This time, I came here for this very reason."

Bai Lin thought it was absolutely fair. However, since Sakura had done something wrong, she naturally had to tilt the scales a little.

Otherwise, how can we be fair enough?

Bai Lin's inner thoughts revealed his sinister nature, and the game officially began. The first step was to launch the black chess piece that represented Bai Lin's malice, which was exactly -

"First, I'd like to ask Miss Hanane, what are rumors? Could it be that the flame on the candlestick is jumping towards us, trying to boil the tea in front of us?"

Bai Lin quickly used an analogy based on what was happening before him. It wasn't enough to break the current atmosphere, but it was enough to shake the listener's heart.

Why would "Qianhong" spread rumors about you, "Sakura"? Could it be that such a powerful nation, so illustrious, wanted to take over your tiny territory? Her words, on the one hand, were posing a very real question and attacking the other party, but on the other hand, they were also mocking the Sakura, saying they were just "a cup of tea."

Hanane's face seemed to darken a little. She leaned forward slightly, and responded in a very calm tone.

"I wonder if Miss Bai Lin is aware that if the candle flame is suppressed by external forces, even if there is only some water as fuel, they will still use it."

Bai Lin immediately burst into laughter, seemingly trying to lighten the atmosphere. She stopped laughing, but still said to Hanane with a smile,

"Miss Hanane, as the leader of a region, still has a playful nature."

"Of course. I hold this position because I'm worthy of everyone's trust. I believe a leader should never lose their optimism. While encouraging optimism in those around them, they should also strive to use their own calm mind to come up with solutions to problems."

Hanane responded like this, and the candlelight on the table drifted to Bai Lin's side again. She continued the second half of the previous sentence,

"As the leader of the adventurers, Miss Bai Lin should understand this as well, right?"

She's quite the questioner, and she's also quite adept at probing people in seemingly harmonious yet ultimately tense ways. So, I'll just go along with what you're saying.

Bai Lin thought so, pretended to think for a moment, and then replied,

"We're just a small group of adventurers, so I wouldn't dare compare them to this. But as a leader guiding the entire group, I believe I must do the right thing and not be constantly criticized. I wonder if Miss Kanon feels the same way?"

Chapter 362 Let the Cherry Blossoms Bloom for a While

The smell of gunpowder instantly filled the air. Bai Lin's lips showed a hint of fake smile, coupled with her words that were obviously sarcastic. But Hanako's face still did not show any hostility. She responded with a positive reply.

"Yes, credibility is important. My people trust me and I think that's a good result."

What a clever transformation, but everything is still under Bai Lin's control. She continued,

"My team trusts me, so I've been leading them carefully to prevent the boat from capsizing."

"Oh? Although it's just a small group of adventurers, it seems that Miss Bai Lin is very strategic. I agree with you on this point. However, I wonder what your purpose is in moving forward. Are you chasing fame and fortune like other adventurers?"

"Even with a brilliant navigator like you, I'm afraid a team of just five is a bit underpowered. Wouldn't it be better if you had some influential people to support you?"