The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 334 Boss Quan (15) - Quest The management bureau is the strongest organization in the esper industry. It's not some kind of bluster or sarcasm — that's simply the truth. In terms of history, it was established even before proper espers existed, and in terms of track record, it is also the organization that first began 'hunting' anomalies in the world. There is no organization with roots as deep as theirs. But despite that overwhelming position, the reason the Underworld gangs looked down on the management bureau and ran amok. It's because the management bureau doesn't use its power recklessly. It doesn't mean the management bureau doesn't do its job. It's just that the management bureau's top priority ideology is 'protecting civilians,' and its coverage area is the entire world. Since it invests most of its capacity in dealing with major incidents that could have a negative impact on society as a whole, the small fry of the Underworld are generally left alone. Even if you hunt them down one by one, new ones just pop up again soon enough, and since these small fry tend to diligently hunt anomalies themselves, for their own profit or whatever else, leaving them alone to a certain extent actually helps reduce the management bureau's workload. However, the Underworld organizations had crossed the line too far in this incident, and the management bureau's retaliation in response was severe. "Good heavens, where do these blasphemous scoundrels think they are, daring to enter the shrine in military boots!! Are you not afraid of divine punishment!!" "A deity who accepts quests from customers and hands out curses is a target for removal, divine punishment be damned. You, the one carrying it out, as well." "...W-wait a moment. Sirs. It seems there is some kind of misunderstanding right now, and if I could just explain properly — ugh! Ugh! Urk!!" "Stop!! This is just an ordinary club!" "It has been confirmed that narcotics-laced liquor obtained from oni is being sold here. Sweep it all away." "Wait!! Do you know who the regulars here are? If the assemblyman finds out about this — gaaaargh!!" Those who had habitually looked down on the management bureau and held their heads high were beaten with rubber suppression rounds, and the worst offenders among them were hit with live ammunition. The groups that had been quietly operating on the fringes of the law all pulled their necks in like turtles and watched for the management bureau's mood. They had sensed the fact that if they caught the eye of the currently enraged management bureau, they would be destroyed on the spot. Quan's office was no exception either. "Hmm. I suppose we'll need to lay low for a while." At Quan's single remark, Qiana frowned. "What, are you scared?" It was a provocative remark, but Quan didn't care and shrugged. "Well, there's no choice but to be scared. In this industry, the management bureau is like an unmovable number-one power. Especially since we've committed plenty of sins ourselves, shouldn't we be even more careful." "Tch. Since I've finally gotten a lot stronger, I was just thinking of going all out on recovering the fragments." The fragments Qiana currently held amounted to about 7% of the whole. Her combat power itself had risen greatly compared to when she first met Quan, but more important than that was her detection ability. Before, she couldn't determine the location unless a fragment was nearby or the other party was using their power strongly, but now she was in a state where she could find out the locations of hidden fragments to any degree. But just as she was eagerly about to go out to recover them, she was told to lay low — which was why she let out a grumbling complaint. "Just lay low. You lost once even at your peak, so what are you trying to fight again for." "I lost because of the Anomaly Slayer, that creature who was more anomalous than any anomaly, not because of the management bureau!? No, and it was a draw with the Anomaly Slayer to begin with, I didn't lose!!" "Didn't you say you had no memory of that fight? Or did something come back to you?" "That's, hmm. Wait?" Qiana was momentarily at a loss for words. Come to think of it, her memories of the entire course of that battle were indeed still hazy. But why had she been so certain it was a draw? No, more than that. "...Because the Anomaly Slayer had no choice but to fall?" Words suddenly spilled out. Words with no basis and no logic. But Qiana felt absolute certainty in those words. As if it were an obvious and natural law. Qiana was frowning at the strange feeling of having said something herself that she couldn't quite explain, when a sharp pain suddenly struck her forehead. "Ow! Why did you hit me!?" "Employee welfare." "Where in the world is there a company that calls a flick on the forehead employee welfare!! Maybe I should report you to the labor board!!" "An anomaly... talking back?" Qiana let out a squawking protest, and Quan, as always, let her complaints wash right past him. Trring—! It was at that moment that the old corded telephone shoved into the corner of the office — which was less of a household item and more of an antique-concept interior decoration piece — let out a shrill, ear-splitting ring. Quan picked up the receiver with an indifferent attitude. "Yes, hello. This is Quan's office." 《I'm calling because I'd like to commission a quest.》 "A quest. Are you looking into a building? If you let me know the intended purpose and your budget ceiling, I can recommend something suitable." 《No, it's not about a building. It's a quest I'd like to give to you personally, Representative Quan.》 "Hmm, what kind of matter is it?" 《I know that your side is in possession of the fragments.》 Quan's words, which had been proceeding in a businesslike manner, paused for a moment. Qiana's eyes, which had been pretending not to be interested while subtly lending an ear to the phone conversation, also went wide. Without setting down the receiver, Quan turned his chair and looked out the window. Qiana also hurried to the window and swept her gaze around the surroundings. And let out a low murmur. "This can't be. When did they...!!" Around the office. Various people had taken up positions on the rooftops of nearby buildings, in alleyways, or at roadside bus stop seats. To ordinary people, they would appear to be just regular civilians with no connection to each other. But both Qiana and Quan could tell. They were all people working in this industry. And not just any — only those with greater skill than the ones who had come out during the wraith incident before. Quan clicked his tongue. "The Enforcement Unit. The management bureau's aces have graced us with their presence. So, what is this quest?" 《It's a bit awkward to talk over the phone, so would you come to the second floor of the café across the street?》 "I'll be right over. Order coffee. Black, the strongest you have." 《Yes, understood.》 Quan set down the receiver with a slight roughness, then immediately put on his coat. "Get ready to come too." Qiana asked. "You're really going?" "We at least need to hear what they have to say, don't we." "It's obviously a trap." "But that doesn't mean we can't go either." Qiana made a displeased expression, but as though she couldn't refute Quan's words, she didn't voice any further objection. "Boss. Sis. Where are you going?" "Just popping across the street for a bit. Before we get back, if anything comes up where you might clash with force, don't fight — just surrender meekly." "Pardon?" "Answer me." "Ah, yes." Leaving behind their subordinates who were flustered by the sudden order but soon nodded with stiff faces, seemingly influenced by Quan's serious tone, the two headed to the café across the street. The first floor of the café appeared at a glance to be full of ordinary customers, but Qiana, who occasionally stopped by here for coffee, narrowed her eyes sharply. Both the owner and the staff were occupying their places very naturally, but in reality, they had been swapped out for different people who were not the usual ones. "Yes, you're the reserved guests? You may head to the second floor." The staff member directed them upstairs as if it were the most natural thing, and the two obediently climbed the stairs. The café's second floor, reached by climbing the creaking wooden stairs, was filled with a comfortable stillness, unlike the noisy yet subtly tense atmosphere of the first floor. The innermost window seat. With three cups of strong black coffee prepared in advance before her, there sat a lone figure. She was a strikingly beautiful woman with brown hair falling naturally below her shoulders. The moment Qiana first saw her, she found herself involuntarily widening her eyes. '...What is this?' The other woman's appearance was certainly beautiful. To a degree that could not be ranked even against Qiana, who pursued an artificial 'perfection.' But if it had simply been a matter of superior facial features or figure, Qiana wouldn't have felt such a strong impression either. After all, if she put her mind to it, she could easily replicate those things. But the woman's aura was an exception. In the murky, grey-hued air unique to the Underworld, she shone with an alien radiance, as if she alone was bathed in a different sun's light. An immense life force, endlessly harmless, endlessly warm, that seemed as if merely looking at it could breathe positive energy into a person. The woman, who had been resting her chin in her hand and gazing out the window, turned toward Quan and Qiana and bowed her head with a welcoming smile. As Quan and Qiana sat down in the seats across from her, the woman opened her mouth to speak. "Welcome, both of you. And I'm sorry. Normally it would be proper for me to visit the office directly, but everyone kept stopping me, saying I couldn't do that." "Shouldn't introducing yourself come before that, as a matter of procedure?" As Quan asked the question while casually sipping the coffee placed before him, the woman made an 'Ah!' expression of realization and nodded in agreement. Each of her expressions was somehow exaggerated, yet there was a peculiar charm to her that prevented it from feeling unpleasant. "My name is Hinosaka Ai. I think it would be easier for both of you to understand if I introduce myself as the Director of the management bureau." Quan's and Qiana's expressions shifted in peculiar ways, each for different reasons. Quan reacted so because he knew a certain cat's records, while Qiana was astonished that the top authority of an organization like the management bureau was such a young woman. '...No, is 'young'... even the right word?' Qiana felt a subtle sense of dissonance. The woman's manner, her words and actions — everything was endlessly fresh and vibrant. It would be believable to call her a newcomer who had just entered society, yet at the same time there was a remarkable sense of depth and composure about her. Yet calling it a case of using some esper-like ability to make her appearance look younger didn't work either — she lacked that particular feeling of someone pretending to be young. Rather than that. 'It's like looking at a protagonist in a manga who keeps on being the same age without change for ten or twenty years.' Around the time Qiana was struggling to put that subtle sensation into words. Quan, without asking permission, took out a cigar and put it in his mouth. Even as the smoke from an especially pungent type of cigar filled the surroundings, not even a hint of displeasure appeared on Hinosaka's face. "So, what exactly is it that the Director of the management bureau wants to commission from me? Honestly, if it's something we can do, the management bureau should generally be able to do it too, no?" "That's not necessarily the case. If we were truly an organization close to all-powerful, we would have been able to prevent the kidnapping of civilians in advance, and we would not have lost track of the two of you when you were fleeing, either." More than that, Hinosaka added. "'Pinpointing the exact locations of the fragments and collecting them one by one' is something we cannot do." Neither Quan nor Qiana were the type to make amateur mistakes like flinching or averting their gaze here. But at the same time, they were also well aware that such an act would be meaningless. The very fact that someone of the caliber of the management bureau's Director was saying this in this situation meant they already knew a considerable amount of information. Quan blew out a breath of smoke and then asked. "In short. 'Help us recover the remaining fragments that the management bureau has been unable to retrieve'. Is that what you mean?" "Yes. We're confident in simply overpowering and subduing things by brute force, but finding something that's thoroughly hidden away is a separate matter. If you would simply play the role of a compass for us, we'll handle the rest." "What's the compensation?" "We'll let you keep your lives, at least." "……." "Hahaha, that was a joke. We're not some kind of gangster outfit. Besides, it seems neither of you have caused harm to any civilians yet." Hinosaka. The Director of the management bureau spoke brightly. "Miss Qiana. We'll make you into a 'complete human.'"