After everyone sat down, Shirou finally relaxed.
The dishes were brought out one after another and lavish would be an understatement. A huge roasted fowl sat in the center of the table, while in front of each person were salad, thick soup, and a large steak.
"Meat! Yes!"
Croissant, a true meat lover, cheered at the sight of the table full of meat.
"So today is this kind of style, huh?"
Exusiai commented after looking over the dishes.
Their boss always ordered different cuisines—Yan-style, Victorian-style, Columbian-style… Though the styles varied, they all had one thing in common: they paired well with red wine.
There was no helping it, their boss's favorite thing was drinking red wine.
"Do you not like it? Then go eat outside."
The Emperor walked over and bluntly replied to Exusiai.
He had spent a lot on this meal and his employee was complaining?
Eat it or leave.
"Oh no, boss, I did not mean I do not like it—I was just admiring your refined taste in food!"
Exusiai instantly put on a flattering smile.
She would not dare use her usual attitude with Shirou on her boss but dealing with him was simple.
Just say what he liked to hear.
"Hmph. Hurry up and eat, you have got a lot of work tomorrow."
The Emperor completely fell for it and brushed the matter aside.
A classic case of harsh words, soft heart.
Watching their interaction, Shirou wondered if he had been too lenient with Exusiai, which was why she messed around so much with him.
But imagining her speaking to him like she did to the boss… he decided things were fine as they were.
If Exusiai suddenly became polite, he might actually consider sending her to a doctor.
"Music, music! How can you eat without music? Give me something rock!"
After opening a bottle of red wine, the Emperor called out and soon, electric guitar music filled the air.
"…."
It might be rude to say, but Shirou felt softer music would have fit better.
Well, the boss was paying—his rules.
"Ahh, that is better. I heard this delivery was pretty rough?"
After taking a sip of wine and a bite of meat, the Emperor opened the conversation.
Aside from the four nearly identical reports, Texas had also submitted a more detailed one written during the mission:
A blizzard, sheltering in a village, encountering an infected organization, and a riot of infected creatures possibly caused by internal conflict.
Just reading it sounded troublesome. Add a Catastrophe, and it would have been even worse.
"Yeah, yeah, so can we get a raise—"
Hearing their boss acknowledge the difficulty, Croissant tried to push for benefits.
Unfortunately, she was cut off.
"We will talk about raises later. I heard you encountered an infected organization, tell me about it."
With a capitalist smile, the Emperor interrupted and went straight to the point.
The real purpose of this dinner was to gather information about Reunion.
An infected organization formed in Ursus, something like that would definitely interest certain people.
After all, Ursus was notoriously harsh toward the infected. The fact that such a group could gather without being wiped out meant either incredible luck…
…or the presence of powerful infected capable of resisting Ursus.
Either way, more information was always useful, especially for couriers.
"Hmm… Reunion? I am not familiar with that."
Exusiai shrugged. Her main impression was just Alina trying to recruit Shirou.
"Not familiar."
Texas followed.
"Shirou had more contact with them, ask him."
Croissant immediately passed the responsibility.
"Uh… good luck, Shirou?"
With everyone pushing the task away, Sora could only cheer him on.
They really had not interacted much and the only one who could answer was him.
"…"
Shirou looked at his teammates with a pained expression.
Even Sora and Texas had abandoned him.
"Oh? Then kid, come talk with me outside."
The Emperor did not mind. As long as someone could explain, that was enough.
Besides, he had something to discuss with Shirou anyway, his performance in the report had been especially outstanding.
"Alright."
Shirou had finished eating anyway, so he followed him outside.
"Outside" meant the balcony on this floor.
There was a tall chair by the railing and Shirou guessed the Emperor sometimes sat there drinking wine and enjoying the view.
And indeed, the view was excellent.
From here, one could see most of Lungmen, especially at night when neon lights illuminated the mobile city in dazzling colors.
"Heave-ho—kid, pour me some wine."
The Emperor climbed onto the chair and asked Shirou for help.
Shirou poured the glass halfway and handed it over.
"Oh? You know your stuff. Others always fill it to the brim."
The Emperor looked pleased.
Whenever others poured for him, they would fill it almost completely. After correcting them multiple times, he had given up and just did it himself.
Clearly, they did not understand how wine should be served.
Compared to that, Shirou impressed him.
For a moment, he even considered transferring Shirou to work directly under him.
But he quickly dropped the idea.
Shirou's personality was too rigid, it would not suit him.
And more importantly, if he did that, Texas's team, especially Exusiai and Croissant would definitely come to cause trouble every day.
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
"I just know a bit."
Shirou was not lying, he had worked at a bar run by an acquaintance and learned some basics.
Though personally, he was not that interested in alcohol at most he used it in cooking.
"Enough small talk. Just tell me what you know—I will record it."
Ending the casual chat, the Emperor swirled his wine while opening a recording app.
"Alright. Simply put…"
Leaning against the balcony, Shirou thought about what Alina had told him, along with what he had seen firsthand—
…and began to summarize.
Here's the English translation of your passage:
Shirou spoke, and the Emperor took notes, though even if he did not, there was still the recording.
Before long, Shirou had told him everything he knew about the Reunion. Of course, he did not mention names unless the Emperor specifically asked.
"I more or less understand now… Reunion, huh? Interesting."
From what Shirou described, the Emperor could tell that Reunion's survival was not just luck. Their leaders had to be strong to lead a group of infected from northern Ursus all the way south.
As for those leaders, however, Shirou did not seem to know much. The Emperor had asked but Shirou could not answer.
And he did not seem like the type to lie, so the Emperor did not press further.
"Kid, do you know why I brought you out here to talk?"
Gesturing for Shirou to refill his wine, the Emperor asked.
The Reunion was just an appetizer and now came the real topic.
"Uh… good scenery? Fresh air?"
Shirou thought for a moment. Those seemed like the advantages here.
"…You idiot."
The Emperor was speechless. Calling him simple-minded was absolutely correct.
Sure, those mattered but was the main point not that they were alone here?
If he were a girl, he would probably be furious.
"???"
Shirou had no idea why he got scolded again.
Did he say something wrong?
"Forget it. What do you think of your own strength?"
The Emperor skipped the explanation and asked directly.
"It's…Not bad?"
After thinking, Shirou answered.
Most of the battles he had fought or witnessed involved Servants, Saber, Archer, Lancer, Berserker, Assassin, Rider, Caster, and even that golden Archer.
Compared to them, he was not particularly strong.
And in this world, he felt his abilities were just enough for self-defense and not especially powerful.
"Sniping accurately from kilometers away, casually pulling out explosives that even Exusiai praises, close combat skills that impressed even Yith… and you call that 'not bad'? Lungmen profanity mixed with indescribable penguin screeching, What kind of humblebrag is that?!"
The Emperor was so angry his face twisted and he almost splashed wine on Shirou.
But thinking about Shirou's feats, he held back.
Definitely not because he was intimidated, it was just concern for his employee.
"Calm down, calm down."
Seeing his boss getting worked up, Shirou hurried to calm him, worried he might jump and fall off the balcony.
The chair was specially made for the Emperor's height, it was very tall. One wrong move and it would be a leap of faith.
"Hah… anyway, your strength is not just decent—in Lungmen, at least on the surface you are considered very strong. Do you understand?"
After calming down, the Emperor spoke seriously.
He wanted Shirou to recognize his own strength.
From Yith's data and Texas's report, Shirou had no real awareness of it.
If he were just a bit strong, that would be fine, it would be easier to… "appropriately assign" work.
But if he was too strong, then the approach had to change.
To put it simply, Shirou was like a massive bomb in his eyes.
Handled poorly, he could blow up half of Lungmen.
And the Emperor had no intention of relocating Penguin Logistics.
This was not an exaggeration, based on data and reports, Shirou's strength warranted concern.
However, from all observations, Shirou was simple or perhaps too simple.
Rather than trying to restrain him, it was better to guide him toward a path he liked.
At the moment, Shirou seemed satisfied with his life.
So the best approach was to let things continue as they were.
And as a bonus he would get a high-level combat asset for free.
There were no downsides.
"…I think I understand now?"
Though he did not fully get why his boss said all this, Shirou knew it was safest to just go along with it.
"Good. Also, Yith mentioned you are satisfied with your current life and do not plan to change your work, right?"
The Emperor set his wine glass aside and jumped down from the chair.
"That is right."
Shirou still held the same mindset, reading in his free time, doing some work and taking care of everyone at Penguin Logistics.
That was enough.
"Good. Then take good care of them. You are strong…I believe you can protect them well."
Hearing that, the Emperor felt reassured.
He left him with that final reminder.
"Understood."
Now Shirou understood why his boss had said all that—
He wanted him to look after and protect everyone at Penguin Logistics.
"Oh right! Do not tell anyone about what we talked about, it will ruin my image!"
Just before heading back inside, the Emperor suddenly turned and warned him.
If others found out especially Exusiai and the others his carefully maintained image would collapse.
"I will not say anything."
Seeing his boss like this, Shirou found it rather amusing.
The two returned to the table.
What remained were some roasted fowl and desserts, the rest had been completely cleared out.
After all, they had been gone for quite a while.
The fact that anything remained at all was thanks to Sora and Texas otherwise Croissant and Exusiai would have finished everything.
"Ahh… that was satisfying."
Croissant leaned back in her chair, completely full. She had left all the talking to Shirou and focused entirely on eating.
"That was seriously great."
Exusiai patted her stomach. All the exercise from the past few days seemed undone.
Still it was worth it. The boss always went all out.
"Sorry for leaving everything to you, Shirou."
Sora clasped her hands apologetically.
"It is fine. I was the one who had the most contact with Reunion anyway."
Shirou did not mind.
Even if others had spoken first, he would have still been taken outside, the boss had clearly intended to talk to him.
As for dessert, there was a small cake, Shirou handed it to Sora, knowing she liked it.
"Did the boss talk to you about anything else? Like future work arrangements?"
Texas quietly asked. She had noticed the boss seemed a bit worked up earlier and they had been gone for quite a while.
Definitely not because she was worried about losing her meals in the future.
"Yeah, just small things. He said I should keep doing what I am doing now."
Shirou remembered the warning and did not mention the final part.
But work-related matters should be fine.
"Is that so? Then I look forward to working with you."
A faint smile appeared on Texas's lips. She was quite satisfied with her current life.
"Same here."
Shirou replied.
"Hey! What are you two whispering about?"
Exusiai suddenly popped up between them, halo glowing, eager to join in.
"We are done talking, idiot."
Texas pushed her head away.
"Hey, don't be so cold, let me join too!"
Exusiai persisted and threw herself onto Texas.
Let go of me!